Conservatism

overall, how has conservatism developed as an ideology?

-traditional conservatism emerged as a reaction to the 18th century age of elightenment.

-One nation conservatism emerged in the late 19th century and evovled in the 20th century to preserve society.

-new right emerged in the 1970s as a reaction to the growth of one nation conservatism.

human imperfection
what are core conservative ideas of human imperfection?

features in Hobbes Leviathan

morally imperfect - selfish and motivated by impulse

intellectually imperfect - reality is beyond rational understanding, abstract ideas/theories will always be flawed.

psychologically imperfect - humans are security driven and rely on tradition for comfort.

human imperfection
what did hobbes argue in terms of human thirst for power?

-Humans desire power and material gratification. they are also distrustful of others.

-Hobbes called this the ‘state of nature’ - a violent, fearful place where humans are in never ending conflict as they pursue selfish desires.

human imperfection
what did hobbes mean by the state of nature?

the ‘state of nature’ is society before the existence of the state, people live without laws. here, life would be little more than a struggle for power.

in leviathan, he argued it would make life “nasty, brutish and short”

human imperfection
why did hobbes not view humans ars completley irrational?

Hobbes thought humans were imperfect, but not completley irrational. Humans would recognise hte state of nature as hellish, and would create a state to protect themselves.

human imperfection
what was hobbes view of the social contract?

the social contract would see individual autonomy surrendered to a sovereign figure. in return they would provide order through their power.

-this would allow society develop, and humans can live without fear.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
what is the background of hobbes work?

Hobbes wrote in reaction to teh english civil war in the 17th century. The war was characterised by anarchy, violence, and a complete overthrow of order.

-The ideas of preventing such anarchy are heavily present in his work leviathan.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
what were the key ideas of hobbes in terms of human nature?

-humans are imperfect and have a relentless desire to acquire goods and self gratification.

-humans are rational enough to seek order, which is achieved through a social contract as individuals surrender their freedom to a sovereign

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
what was the nature of hobbes sovereign/leviathan?

-social contract means all individual autonomy is surrendered to the state. sovereign alone determines the rights/laws of the people. society cannot exist before such social contract.

-sovereign is not actually bound by the social contract, or any law and is free to govern as it sees fit.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
what was hobbes idea if the sovereign was to behave in a corrupt manner?

it would be unwise for the sovereign to behave in such way. if they do, then the people could deprive the sovereign of power through revolution. this was an extremley undersirable situation.

human imperfection
what were Edmund Burkes views on human imperfection, in relation to hobbes?

burke agreed with hobbes that humans are imperfect. however he disagreed considerably on the extent of such imperfection:

human imperfection
what were burkes views on human imperfection?

Burke argued that humans are not ruthlessly individualistic, instead they are communal, and imperfection makes them join up in communities.

-agreed with Hobbes that humans are capable of making mistakes, but not to the same destructive levels.

human imperfection
what was hobbes view on change based on abstract ideas?

hobbes argued that decision making based on rationalistic ideas is bad. according to him, change should be empircallly considered:

when considering change, “reason is a part and by no means the greatest part”

Edmund Burke (1729-97)
what was burkes view of how those in power should shape society?

Burke argued that political power does not give those in charge the right to change society based on abstract ideas. instead they should be mindful of tradition and they must preserve society.

Edmund Burke (1729-97)
what was burkes view on the nature of how society functions?

Burke argued that society is organic, but not static, and sometimes must “change to conserve” itself. these changes must be guided by pragmatism and empiricism.

-Unlike Hobbes, he also viewed the social contract as between the living and those yet to be born. state must be cautious to ensure its survival for those yet to be born.

Edmund Burke (1729-97)
what was burkes view on what would happen if the state used abstract ideas?

Burke argued that modern states are too complex to function on rationalistic ideas.
-such ideas create disaster and tyranny, such as the french reolution, which disregarded tradition for “philisophical abstractions”

Edmund Burke (1729-97)
what was burkes view of hierarchy?

Burke argued against franchise expansion, as he argued that universal suffrage would create mob rule which threatens social hierarchy.

human imperfection
what were oakeshotts views on human imperfection?

-Oakeshott agreed more with Burke than Hobbes.

-Oakshott argued that humans are fragile an fallible, but are capable of benovolance.

-Like Burke, Oakeshott argued that society is organic and based on intricate customs and traditions which provide humans with security.

-However, utoopian societies are impossible.

Michael Oakeshott (1901-90)
what were the main ideas of oakeshott?

-security of long standing traditions and customs

-rationalism is beyond human thought due to intellectual imperfection. argued for “politics of faith” in which decisions are made via empiricism.

-government should govern in the best interests of the people, grounded in pragamtism.

Michael Oakeshott (1901-90)
what was oakeshotts view of politics?

Oakeshott argued for the “politics of scepticism” in which abstract ideas create unintended negative consequences.

warned to be careful that “the cure is not worse than the disease”

what is empiricism?

-the changes the state makes are informed by past expierence.

what is rationlism?

the changes the state makes are informed my abstract ideas/theory.

organic society/state
how do conservatives believe the state is established and built upon?

the state is not created, it emerges, and grows, developing like an organism. Hobbes belief that the state preceeds society is a fundamental conservative principle.

organic society/state
what was the traditional conservative view of the state?

Hobbes, Burke and Oakeshott agreed that once the state creates order, society will emerge organically.

organic society/state
what was burkes view of community?

Burke wrote about “little platoons” of local communities which are bound by cooperation and give structure/meaning to life.

-the organic state upholds this.

organic society/state

what was burkes view of the aristocracy?

Burke argued that the aristocracy had a crucial role in maintaining social order.
-he was critical of the french nobility for abandoning this responsbiility, which led to the 1789 revolution.

maintaining society
how do conservatives think society would be conserved/maintained?

“change to conserve” - state maintains society, by adapting shifting circumstances by making small changes.

-view shared by traditional conservatives, one nation and neo cons.

unequal society
how is society unequal in conservatism?

-organic society is hierarchial, and inequality is natural.

-Hobbes argued that society should be ruled by an absolute monarch/dictator

-Burke argued that the aristocracy should lead, which had a responsibility for the lower classes.

what is noblesse-oblige?

the conservative view that societies elite, the wealthy and the privileged, should look after those less fortunate.

pragmatism
what did burke say about pragmatism?

Burke said “example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other”

pragmatism
why do neo liberals reject pragamtism?

Neo liberals reject pragmatism. they have a more positive view of human nature, and prefer rationalism.

tradition
what represents tradition?

-tradition is represented by age old institutions and customs of society. in the UK conservatives would revere the monarchy and house of lords, while US conservatives would revere the constitution and the bill of rights.

tradition

in conservative view, what is the most important tradition?

Religion is the most important tradition.

Burke argued that religion is “our comfort, and one great source of civilisation”

-Religious traditions bind society together and Burke argued atheism must be supressed as it destablised society.

-Oakeshott argued that the decline of religion since the 1960s has led humans to be more inclined to abstract ideas and harmful thiking.

tradition
what did burke say about society?

“a partnership between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born”

tradition
what did oakeshott say about religion?

“what has stood the test of time is good and must not be lightly cast aside”

paternalism
what was the traditional conservative view of paternalism?

Traditional conservatives favoured a kind of localised paternalism.

-the ruling elite of the late 19th century accepted their obligations of the new industrial working class by enacting social reforms and limited welfare to preserve stability.

paternalism
how has paternalism influenced one nation conservatives?

paternalistically motivated one nation conservatives have increasingly intervened in socioeconmics after WWII Macmillan avocated more state intervention and a larger welfare state than any other conservative PM before him.

paternalism
what was the Neo Con view of paternalism?

Neo Cons argue that the paternalistic welfarism of the post war has had unintended consequences.

-those they were trying to help became dependant on the state
-societal obligations of traditional conservatism was lost.

libertarianism
what is libertarianism?

emphasises negative freedom and minimal state intervention.

libertarianism
how did libetarianism build upon traditional conservativsm?

Burke supported Adam Smith, the champion of laissez-faire economics.
-18th century traditional conservatism saw a minimal role of the state in society and the economy

libertarianism
how did neo liberalism form?

Neo liberals formed an uneasy ideological union with the neo conservatives, to form the new right.

-Neo conservatives admired classical liberal ideas that were consistent with Burkes small state and laissez faire economics.

neo liberals
what is the neo liberal view of society?

Neo liberals view soiciety as atomistic, made up of self interested and self sufficient individuals.

-Ayn Rand argues for atomistic individualism, where autonomous individuals seek rationlised self fulfilment.

Rand does not believe society exists, as we are a loose collection of independent beings.

-views informed by a posotovie view of human nature.

neo liberals
how do neo libs view human nature?

Neo liberals reject pessimistic human imperfection, preferring the rationalism of the enlightment.

-neo liberals such as Robert Nozick and Rand reject empiricism, which puts them at odds with traditional, one nation and neo cons.

neo liberals
what is the neo lib view of individualism?

Egotistical individualism, in which the rights of the individual are more important than the rights of the state.

-negative freedom adds to this - hard drugs and prostitution should be legal. - which puts them at odds with neo cons and traditoinal cons.

neo liberals
what is the neo lib view of the economy ?

Neo liberal economist friedrich Hayek argued that the expensive welfare states should be abolished as they will eventually bankrupt society,

-Nozick and Rand promoted these ideas.

Ayn Rand (1905-82)
what were the key ideas of rand?

Individuals are rational, and their heighest moral purpose is the achievement of personal happiness. she rejects human imperfection and organic society.

-only role of the state is to protect individual rights. in an atomistic society, individuals have the right to property, free from tax for welfare.

-supported negative freedoms - gay marriage and abortion.

-

Robert Nozick (1938-2002)
what were the key ideas of Robert Nozick?

-Tax is theft

-limited government with minimal influence on the lives of individuals

-states primary function is to protect individual rights.

-communities must be free to practice their own moral codes, rather than state imposed political/religious values.

traditional conservatism - reactionary
how did hobbes view traditional conservatism as reactionary?

in the 18th century, traditional ideas were challenged by the ideas of the elightenment and revolution in france.

-hobbes ideas were a reaction to this change.

traditional conservatism - non reactionary

how did burke view traditional conservatism as non-reactionary?

Burke was clear that conservatism must counter enlightenment ideas.

-however, his ideology was capable of change, via the change to conserve principle.

traditional conservatism - a natural disposition
how did oakeshoott view traditional conservatism as a natural disposition?

Oakeshott argued that conservatism is created by human imperfection, and is not really an political idea or ideology.

-Oakeshott would prefer trusted methods of imperfect institutions not to change.

Oakeshott’s “politics of faith” argued that humans intellectual inability to comprehend reality means that abstract thoughts will always be falwed.

Early one-nation conservatism

how did benjamin disraeli form early one nation conservatism?

Conservative PM Benjamin Disraeli aimed to secure society by addressing tensions between rich and the poor while renewing a sense of national identity.

-nationalism, based on organic conservatism, where all classes are part of “the nation”

-elite has a noblesse oblige responsibility.

Early reforms to relieve tensions within society such as the 1867 representation of the people act.

Later one nation conservatism
what were primeminister macmillans later one nation conservative ideas?

-shared burkes belief that preserving society was of paramount importance

-rejected empiricism, and chose the rationlistic ideas of keynesian economics.

Later one nation conservatism
how was one nation conservatism informed by modern liberalism?

one nation conservatism is informed by modern liberals, with ideas such as an enabbling state.

-however, recent one naition conservatives such as Boris Johnson can argue that the use of keynesian econoimmcs is a pragmatic behaviour.

Later one nation conservatism
what were Oakeshotts views on one nation conservatism?

Oakehostt disagreed with one nation conservatives, as state management is rationally informed and ignores the limits of human reason.

-modern one nation conservatives have also embraced social liberalism, putting it at odds with traditional conservative values.

The new right
how did the new right emerge? what is it?

emerged as a result of the poor economy in the 1960s and 1970s.

-marriage of neo liberalism and neo conservatism, and therefore classical liberalism and traditional conservatism.

Atomistic individualism
how do neoliberals disagree on the traditional conservative view of teh state?

Neo liberals disagree with Hobbes, Burke and Oakeshotts core conservative view that the state has legitimacy to intefere in society via a social contract / noblesse oblige.

atomistic individualism

what did nozick argue about the state ?

Nozick argued that the state has no right to force its citizens to “obey its edicts, pay its taxes, fight its battles”

atomistic individualism

what was the neo liberal view of atomistic indivudualism?

Nozick argued for self ownership, in which individuals retained their bodies, talents, abilities and labour and are under minimal obligations from the state.

-informed by John Locke’s rationlism, and Kant’s belief that humans should not be a resource.

atomistic individualism
what was the neo liberal view of the state?

Nozick argued that the only role of the state is to protect human rights, with state involvement limited to “enforcements of contrasts and so on”

-to preserve freedom, governments should roll back the state.

atomistic individualism
what were rands views of society?

-Society is capable of making individuals believe false truths.

the heros of history are those who breakthrough such harmful groupthink via rational thought.

-only with atomistic individualism can individuals experience negative freedom, and develop full rational potential to comprehend the state of relaity.

atomistic individualism
what was rands view on tradition?

traditions that burke, oakshott and hobbes cherish are nonsense.

-truth is not found in collective beliefs but rather in scientific fact.

atomistic individualism
what was rands view on altruism?

Rand argued that altruism is misrepresented in an organic society. it should not be a forced duty under the state but rather the rational action of an individual achieving their own moral compass.

-agrees with Nozick that state welfare spending is unethical as it forces values on individuals.

free market economics
why do neo liberals reject state planning?

-the state was ill equipped to plan or intervene in the economy

-nationalised industries were inefficient in the 60s and 70s, and lacked free market dynamism and were artifically protected from free market competition.

neo conservatism
what are the key ideas of the neo cons?

-maintaining organic society from social fragmentation
-upholding public morality with authoritarian law and order.

-while neo libs aim to reduce the role of the state to protect individual liberty, neo cons aim to increase state involvement and contain individual freedom if they feel it is for the good of society.

neo conservatist fear of social fragmentation
in a similar fashion to hobbes, how is neo conservatism reactionary?

-neo conservatism unease started with the social/sexual revolution of the 1960s, which ushered in an age of moral relativism.

-argue that secular rejection of religion in the west has depleted the moral value of society.

neo conservatist fear of social fragmentation
what was the neo con view of society?

Neo cons value orgnanic society and reject neo liberal vision of atomistic individualism, which undermines core societal vluaes.

-agree with traditional conservatives that religion, tradition and authority are vital parts of organic society.
-agree with Burke that preserving this is vital.

neo conservatist fear of social fragmentation
what was the neo con view of welfare?

Neocons argue that welfare reforms in the west have created a dependency culture.

-Dismiss neo liberal ideas of simply dismantling the welfare state. argue for a small saftey net for those who are genuinly struggling.

neo conservatist fear of social fragmentation
what is the neo con view of human nature?

share traditional conservative view that human nature is natturally imoral and not hard working.

public morality and authoriatarian law and order
what is the neo con view of ‘anti permisiveness’?

a rejection, informed by christianity, that there is no right or wrong. therefore sex before marriage, same sex relationships and abortion are all wrong.

public morality and authoriatarian law and order
how did they reject neo liberal views of society?

Neocons reject Rand’s idea that religion limits rationality and individual liberty.

-Counters neo liberal ideas that moral choices are up to the individual.

-promotes a tough police state to uphold these morals.

public morality and authoriatarian law and order
what is neo con view on foreign policy\?

-strict control. foreign and domestic.

-aggressive foreign policy and military intervention to protect security of the state.

-seen in Bush years.