Human Nature

conservatives general view on HN

negative. humans are selfish and imperfect and cannot reach perfect society.

HN Hobbes quote from Leviathan (1651)

(humans were) “egotistical and likely to commit cruel and destructive acts”

Hobbes quote about HN without a government

“solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”

Hobbes “state of nature” definition

a place of scarce resources where humans are driven by self-interest and shaped by desires, distrust of others and the fear of violent death. this“natural chaos” was caused by the lack of authority to enforce right and wrong. due to people’s rational thinking they recognised this and rose up through a social contract, giving up freedom in return for security provided by a sovereign

what was Hobbes writing in response

the English Civil War

what was Burke writing in reaction to

the French Revolution

Burke’s view on the revolution + HN

justified but not right. it was doomed to fail because the french government was focussed on one thing (creating a society free from misery) and, due to our flawed intellect, can’t multitask. also, people are too vain, not acknowledging our own flaws so the revolution was justified but not right because they didn’t consider how often humans fail

Burke’s quote on why the revolution didn’t work HN

need to consider the “warts and foibles that mark each man”

what is Burke’s “timeless chasm” HN

the gap between expectations and reality, which is what made the revolution dangerous

what is Burke’s view on change HN

“change to conserve”. rather than revolution they should change things more gradually, more pragmatic approach. its structure should be gradually changed so that progress is not lost

Oakeshott’s quote about progress

progress is hard to lose because people prefer the “familiar to the unknown, the tried to the untried, fact to mystery”

what is Oakeshott’s view on HN compared to Burke and Hobbes

more hopeful and forgiving interpretation of HN

Oakeshott disagreement with Hobbes about hostility

humans are dangerous but Hobbes fixation on their destructive actions ignores the social aspects of human nature. our beliefs and traditions are shaped by the family and tribe we are born into, influencing what we do. “the state of nature for man is therefore not the same as it is for beasts”

Oakeshott disagreement with Hobbes about self-interest

Hobbes’ claim is that humans only operate off rational self-interest. Oakeshott believes humans are more social than Hobbes believes, having a fondness for the “communal pleasures of family, friends, gardens and games’. not doing for any merit. they often choose things that go against their self-interest

what does Hobbes agree with Burke about

constructing society from abstract principles is too dangerous. empiricism is better because humans are too unpredictable and complex to be understood through abstract concepts. when tradition and culture are disregarded by these concepts, extreme and unstable societies develop (Fascist Italy). ‘social engineering’ cannot be done as it is unnatural. traditional and culture are an expression of human nature, acting as a social glue, showing what works

Oakeshott’s quote about empiricism

“a known good is not lightly to be surrendered for an unknown better”

origins of the new right

radical ideas started to develop after western economies slowed down due to the post-war boom

new right’s view on human nature

humans are selfish, rational or they wouldn’t survive, self-interested, desire freedom more than anything else

Ayn Rand background

moved to the US because of the Bolveshik Revolution in Russia

Ayn Rand’s belief

rationality is human’s basic means of survival and in their nature. “rational selfishness is the ultimate expression of human nature”. - the moral purpose of life is the pursuit of one’s own interests, immoral to sacrifice smth for others

Rand’s view on altruism

altrusim was a pernicious distortion of our true nature because we are not obligated to help others. altrusim conflicts with human nature and is tearing society apart. the natural state of humanity is selfishness and therefore your own happiness is the purpose of life.

Rand’s quote on altrusim

“altruism is incompatible with freedom”

Robert Nozick agreement with Rand

that humans are rational and self-serving

what does Robert Nozick argue in his book Anarchy, State and Utopia

humans owned themselves as they are rational beings with rational thought

what is Nozick’s self-ownership

humans have the moral right to keep what they produce and shouldn’t be forced or obligated to give resources to others. they have the right to act in any way they choose with their resources, even if it harms others (eg. smoking)