Key Concepts in Conservatism, Feminism, Anarchism, and Environmentalism

Conservatism

A political philosophy emphasizing tradition, social stability, and the value of established institutions.

Anti-ideology

Conservatives often reject rigid ideologies, seeing them as abstract and detached from real-world experience and history.

Classical Conservatism's Criticism of Liberalism

Criticizes liberalism's focus on individualism and rationalism; favors tradition, community, and continuity.

Communitarianism in Classical Conservatism

It values the community over the individual, emphasizing social cohesion and shared traditions.

Positive Views of Classical Conservatism

It upholds custom, tradition, patriotism, and prefers organic change over radical reform.

Burke's Idea of Political Community

A partnership across generations—past, present, and future—emphasizing continuity and duty.

Roger Scruton's View on Tradition

We should preserve traditions that promote social harmony and discard harmful ones.

Oakeshott's Critique of Rationalism

Argued that reason alone cannot guide politics—tradition and experience matter.

Components of Free-Market Conservatism

Emphasizes economic liberty, limited government, property rights, and cultural conservatism.

Relation of Free-Market Conservatism to Classical Liberalism

Both support free markets and individual liberty, but conservatism adds emphasis on tradition and authority.

Hayek's Critique of Social Justice

He saw it as vague, misleading, and a threat to freedom and market efficiency.

Thatcher's "Free Economy in a Strong State"

She supported free markets combined with firm political authority.

Ayn Rand's Insights

Her advocacy of rational self-interest, individual rights, and capitalism as a moral system.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and dominate roles in society.

Difference Between Sex and Gender

Sex is biological; gender is socially constructed and culturally defined.

Liberal Feminism Contributions

Focus on equality, legal rights, education, and participation in public life.

Mill's Argument About Patriarchy

He saw it as anti-modern and an obstacle to progress.

Liberal Maternalist Feminism

Belief in women's moral superiority and societal contribution through nurturing roles; can reinforce gender roles.

Socialist Feminism

Combines feminism and Marxist ideas; critiques capitalism and patriarchy together.

Radical Feminism

Sees patriarchy as a root cause of women's oppression; calls for fundamental restructuring of society.

Difference feminism

Emphasizes value in women's distinct traits; critiques focus on sameness as equality.

bell hooks' criticism of mainstream feminism

She argued it often ignored race, class, and intersectionality.

Anarchist critique of the state

They oppose the state as coercive and hierarchical, unlike liberals or conservatives who may accept a limited state.

Anarchism's critique of state capitalism

They view it as exploitative, similar to socialism but go further by rejecting state power altogether.

Social cooperation without coercion

People can voluntarily cooperate and self-organize without state enforcement.

Replacement of the state in anarchism

Through decentralized, horizontal networks of self-governance.

Economic order replacing capitalism in anarchism

Mutualism, collectivism, or anarcho-communism—based on voluntary association.

Anarchist view of human nature

People are naturally cooperative and capable of self-management.

Kropotkin's argument in Mutual Aid

That cooperation, not competition, drives human and animal evolution.

Anarchist views on violence and revolution

Some support revolutionary change; others favor peaceful, grassroots alternatives.

Anarchism's relation to liberalism, conservatism, and socialism

Shares liberalism's anti-authoritarianism, socialism's anti-capitalism, but rejects hierarchical structures of both.

Conservationism vs. environmentalism

Conservation focuses on managing natural resources; environmentalism focuses on protecting ecosystems and human-nature relationships.

Main features of liberal (mainstream) environmentalism

Focuses on regulations, market solutions, and sustainable development.

Anthropocentric environmentalism

A human-centered approach that values nature based on its utility to humans.

Key traits of eco-socialism

Combines ecological concerns with anti-capitalist, socialist principles.

Key traits of eco-anarchism

Merges ecological sustainability with anarchist principles of decentralization and mutual aid.

Environmentalism 'beyond left and right'

It challenges traditional political divides by promoting sustainability as a universal concern.

Key features of Naess' Deep Ecology

Advocates intrinsic value of nature, radical changes in human behavior, and deep questioning of consumerism.

Deep Ecology's move beyond anthropocentric views

It sees all life as valuable, not just what benefits humans.

Strengths and weaknesses of Deep Ecology

Strengths: ethical depth and holistic vision. Weaknesses: impracticality and potential neglect of social issues.