Conservatism and Human Nature FTB

A set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering the key concepts, thinkers, and disagreements regarding the conservative view of human nature as outlined in the Edexcel/AQA politics essay plan.

Thomas Hobbes argued in his work 'Leviathan' that without a strong state, human life would be ________.

solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short

According to Thomas Hobbes, humans are ruthless, calculating, and driven by basic instincts for ________ and ________.

survival; self-interest

Edmund Burke wrote in 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' that men are qualified for civil liberty in proportion to their disposition to put ________ upon their own appetites.

moral chains

Ayn Rand argued in 'The Virtue of Selfishness' that the only proper purpose of a government is to protect man from ________.

physical violence

Traditional and one-nation conservatives see human imperfection as being three-fold: ________, ________, and ________.

psychological; moral; intellectual

The traditional conservative view of moral imperfection is deeply influenced by Christian teachings about ________.

original sin

Traditional and one-nation conservatives believe humans are ________ imperfect, meaning they are influenced by emotions, fears, and desires rather than logic.

psychologically

The belief that the state should act in a protective manner to support citizens who are vulnerable to their own imperfections is known as ________.

paternalism

Michael Oakeshott used the analogy of a ________ to describe political activity as navigating an unpredictable sea rather than heading toward a specific destination.

boat

The New Right rejects human imperfection and instead views human nature as ________ and ________.

rational; self-interested

Ayn Rand's philosophy, known as ________, argues that pursuing one's own happiness is the highest moral pursuit.

objectivism

Ayn Rand argued that ________ diminishes individual freedom and creates an unhealthy dependence, making parasites of those it serves.

altruism

Michael Oakeshott described human behavior as "________, ________, and ________," yet potentially benign when framed by customs.

noisy, foolish, and flawed

Edmund Burke advocated for ________, which he called "little platoons," to provide individuals with security and a sense of belonging.

localism

The Disraeli government enacted the ________ of 1875 to improve public health and sanitary conditions.

Public Health Act

The theory of ________, associated with Robert Nozick, asserts that individuals have sovereignty over their bodies and the fruits of their labour.

self-ownership