conservatism

CHAPTER 3 + WEEK 4

CONSERVATISM

Everything included.
Repetition preserved.
Lecture language + textbook language layered.
Liberal contrasts included for depth (but this is a Conservatism chapter).
Renaissance ideology example integrated.
All thinker references kept.
All quotes interpreted.

I. OPENING FRAME: IDEOLOGY & HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Renaissance Mercury & Syphilis Example

During the Renaissance:

  • Mercury was ingested as treatment for syphilis.

  • Reasoning was symbolic:

    • Mercury associated with planet Mercury.

    • Syphilis linked to marketplace.

    • Astrological connections used as justification.

  • From a modern standpoint, this seems irrational or absurd.

  • Compared to modern conspiracy thinking.

Why This Matters

  • Every era believes itself rational.

  • Ideology shapes what counts as “common sense.”

  • Renaissance reasoning was internally coherent within its worldview.

  • We may look absurd to future generations.

Connection to ideology:

  • Rationality evolves.

  • Institutions embed belief systems.

  • What feels “natural” or “obvious” is historically conditioned.

  • Conservatism warns against arrogance of the present.

II. WHAT IS CONSERVATISM?

Everyday Meaning

  • Moderate

  • Cautious

  • Conventional

  • Conformist

  • Fear of change

  • “To conserve”

As Political Ideology (19th Century Usage)

  • First used early 1800s.

  • In USA: pessimistic view of public affairs.

  • By 1820s: opposition to French Revolution principles.

  • In UK: Tory faction → Conservative Party (official name 1835).

Conservatism =
Desire to conserve, resist, or suspect change.

BUT:

If it were only resistance to change → it would be an attitude, not ideology.

Conservatism is distinct because it justifies resistance through:

  • Tradition

  • Human imperfection

  • Organic society

  • Hierarchy

  • Authority

  • Property

III. HISTORICAL ORIGINS

Reaction to the French Revolution (1789)

French Revolution:

  • Liberty

  • Equality

  • Fraternity

  • Rights of Man

  • Rationalist remaking of society

  • Overthrow of monarchy

  • Attack on Church

Conservatives saw:

  • Dogmatism

  • Promethean social engineering

  • Prideful rationalism

  • Abstract universalism

  • Destruction of sacred institutions

Conservatism stood in defence of:

  • Ancien Régime

  • Monarchy

  • Aristocracy

  • Church

  • Tradition

IV. EDMUND BURKE (1729–1797)

Classic conservative formulation:
Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)

Burke’s Foundations

  • Christian

  • Influenced by Christian political thought

  • Central theme: sin, humility, danger of pride

St. Augustine:

“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.”

Burke against:

  • Saint-Just

  • Robespierre

  • Rationalist revolutionaries

Revolutionaries:

  • Tried to remake society on moral abstractions.

  • Rights of Man.

  • Reason as supreme authority.

Burke:

  • Man is beneath God.

  • Man is not God.

  • Humans cannot redesign society from scratch.

  • Society too complex.

  • Policies have unintended consequences.

Burke’s Key Ideas

  • Society = partnership between:

    • Living

    • Dead

    • Unborn

  • Institutions represent accumulated wisdom.

  • Reform must be slow and cautious.

  • “Change in order to conserve.”

  • Protect traditions and institutions.

Burke distressed by:

  • Loss of chivalry

  • Rise of money-makers

  • Commodification of everything

  • Markets flattening hierarchy

  • “King is now merely a man.”

V. GEOGRAPHICAL DEVELOPMENT

UK & Canada

  • Strong Burkean influence.

  • Conservative pragmatism.

  • Reformist but cautious.

Continental Europe

  • More authoritarian conservatism.

  • Defence of monarchy.

  • Resistance to democracy.

  • Acceptance of democracy only post-WWII (Germany, Italy).

USA

  • Initially little conservative influence.

  • Strong liberal foundation.

  • Republicans and Democrats avoided label “conservative.”

  • 1964: Barry Goldwater.

  • Leads to Ronald Reagan (1980s).

Beyond West

Conservative-style movements:

  • Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

  • Narendra Modi

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

  • Jair Bolsonaro

Themes:

  • Strongman leadership

  • Nationalism

  • Defense of tradition

  • Anti-globalism

  • Mass mobilization

VI. CORE THEMES OF CONSERVATISM

1. TRADITION

Tradition = what is passed down.

Includes:

  • Customs

  • Institutions

  • Values

  • Social systems

  • Monarchy (UK/Canada example)

  • Church

  • Judicial dress

  • Architecture

Why defend tradition?

  1. Accumulated wisdom

  2. Tested by time

  3. “Democracy of the dead” (Chesterton)

  4. Rootedness

  5. Belonging

  6. Social cohesion

Religious version:

  • Traditions are God-given.

  • Tampering challenges divine will.

Secular version:

  • Survival proves value.

  • Darwinian natural selection of institutions.

2. HUMAN IMPERFECTION

Conservatism = philosophy of imperfection.

Psychological imperfection

  • Humans limited.

  • Seek security.

  • Fear instability.

  • Want to know their place.

Moral imperfection

  • Selfish

  • Greedy

  • Power-seeking

Influence of Thomas Hobbes:

  • Desire for power primary instinct.

  • Without authority → chaos.

Crime:

  • Not caused by inequality.

  • Caused by base instincts.

  • Law and enforcement necessary.

Law’s role:

  • Preserve order.

  • Not maximize liberty.

Intellectual imperfection

  • World too complex.

  • Suspicion of abstract principles.

  • “Rights of man,” “equality,” “social justice” dangerous when blueprint for redesign.

Influence of Michael Oakeshott:

Prefer the familiar to the unknown.

3. ORGANIC SOCIETY

Society is:

  • A living organism.

  • Not a machine.

  • Not a contract.

  • Not rationally assembled.

Organic features:

  • Whole > parts

  • Parts interdependent

  • Fragile web of relationships

Family example:

  • Not invented

  • Not contractual

  • Product of natural impulses

Freedom:

  • Not being left alone.

  • Doing one’s duty.

  • Accepting obligations.

Contrast with Liberalism:

  • Liberal: atomistic individual

  • Conservative: rooted being

Same-sex marriage debate:

  • Marriage viewed as natural, biological, procreative (traditional conservative view).

  • Some neoliberal conservatives reinterpret as contract.

4. HIERARCHY & AUTHORITY

Hierarchy:

  • Natural

  • Inevitable

  • Not purely meritocratic

  • Reflects functional differentiation

Natural aristocracy:

  • Talent innate

  • Leadership inborn

Authority:

  • Develops naturally

  • Necessary for order

  • Parents over children

  • Teachers over students

  • Government over citizens

Authoritarian conservatism:

  • Authority absolute

Mainstream conservatism:

  • Authority tied to responsibility

5. PROPERTY

Property is:

  • Security

  • Stability

  • Psychological extension of self

  • Stake in society

Burglary:

  • Personal violation

  • Not just economic loss

Property creates:

  • Respect for law

  • Social bonds across generations

  • Intergenerational responsibility

Contrast with liberalism:

  • Liberal: property reflects merit.

  • Conservative: property confers stability and obligation.

VII. TYPES OF CONSERVATISM

Libertarian Conservatism

Blend of:

  • Economic liberalism

  • Social conservatism

Supports:

  • Free markets

  • Minimal economic state

  • Strong state for order

Key thinkers:

  • Friedrich Hayek

  • Milton Friedman

  • Robert Nozick

  • Ayn Rand

Neoliberalism

Emerges 1970s.
Linked to:

  • Ronald Reagan

  • Margaret Thatcher

Beliefs:

  • Market self-regulating

  • Privatization

  • Deregulation

  • Tax cuts

  • Anti-welfare

  • Anti-Keynesianism

Critique of welfare:

  • Creates dependency

  • Undermines dignity

  • Violates property rights

Nozick:

  • Redistribution = legalized theft.

Authoritarian Conservatism

Inspired by:

  • Joseph de Maistre

Support for:

  • Absolute monarchy

  • Rigid hierarchy

  • Order over reform

Historical examples:

  • Nicholas I

  • Support for Benito Mussolini

  • Support for Adolf Hitler

Paternalistic Conservatism

Rooted in Burke.

“One Nation” conservatism:

  • Benjamin Disraeli

  • “Two nations: rich and poor”

  • Noblesse oblige

  • Social reform to prevent revolution

Later:

  • Harold Macmillan

  • Planned capitalism

  • Middle way

Christian Democracy

Rooted in Catholic social theory.

Key document:

  • Rerum Novarum (1891)

Key thinker:

  • Jacques Maritain

Beliefs:

  • Social market economy

  • Cooperation

  • Welfare provision

  • Balance capitalism + solidarity

VIII. TWO CONSERVATIVE FUTURES

  1. Neoliberal globalist conservatism

    • Free markets

    • Individualism

    • Pro-globalization

  2. Right-wing populist conservatism

    • Anti-globalism

    • Nationalism

    • Immigration restriction

    • Cultural defense

    • Protectionism

IX. LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE? (THINKER MAP)

“Government exists to protect us from each other…” → Libertarian conservative

“Whenever legislators destroy property…” → John Locke (Liberal)

“Prefer the familiar to the unknown…” → Michael Oakeshott (Conservative)

“State of nature… life, liberty, possessions…” → John Locke (Liberal)

“Man is insatiable for power…” → Thomas Hobbes (Proto-conservative influence)

“Invisible hand…” → Adam Smith (Classical Liberal)

FINAL FORMULA

Conservatism =
Tradition + Imperfect Humans + Organic Society + Hierarchy + Authority + Property + Suspicion of Abstraction + Preference for Order + Cautious Reform + Internal Tension (Libertarian vs Paternalist vs Authoritarian)

Historical Context of Syphilis Treatment in the Renaissance

  • Ingestion of Mercury for Syphilis Treatment

    • Mercury was commonly suggested as a treatment for syphilis during the Renaissance era.

    • The speaker references a passage discussing this treatment, noting that while the effectiveness of mercury is of interest, what intrigues them more is the reasoning behind this treatment.

    • Symbolic Reasoning

    • Mercury is associated with the planet Mercury.

    • Syphilis was said to be contracted in the marketplace, which seems to have connections with astrological beliefs.

    • The speaker finds this reasoning humorous and perplexing, likening it to conspiracy theories of today.

Connection to Ideologies

  • The speaker expresses a fondness for the history of science and reflects on how rational thinking has evolved.

  • Renaissance Thinking vs. Modern-day Logic

    • They mention how we might look back at contemporary beliefs in a million years with similar incredulity as we regard renaissance thoughts today.

    • Importance is placed on understanding how ideologies manifest in daily life and societal institutions.

Overview of Liberalism and Conservatism Discussions

  • The speaker aims to conclude with discussions on liberalism and conservatism and incorporate an interactive activity called "Liberal or Conservative."

  • Key Traditions and Schools of Liberalism

    • The speaker initiates a discussion asking for identification of influential schools of liberalism, prompting the response of classical liberalism.

Classical Liberalism

  • Roots and Definition

    • Built on Enlightenment ideals, emphasizing individual rights derived from Enlightenment thinkers.

    • Primarily consolidates in the nineteenth century (1800s), addressing both political and economic aspects.

  • Key Themes

    • Promoting market economies and minimizing government intervention in citizens' lives for individual freedom.

    • Emphasis on individual autonomy based on dignity, stemming from Enlightenment notions.

  • Natural Rights Theory

    • Influenced by philosophers like John Locke.

    • Rights are inherent to humanity and not granted by the state.

    • Locke identifies critical rights:

    • Right to life

    • Right to liberty

    • Right to property

    • The government's primary role is to safeguard these rights, underpinning its legitimacy.

    • When the government fails to do so, its legitimacy is questioned, potentially leading to its overthrow.

  • Purpose of Government

    • Functions: maintain public order, protect property, defend against external threats, and enforce contracts.

Economic Foundations of Classical Liberalism

  • Adam Smith's Contributions

    • Critique of mercantilism, advocating for market freedom and promoting the concept of self-regulating markets.

  • Mercantilism

    • Characterized by state control over economic life (high tariffs, minimal imports, maximizing exports).

  • Market Dynamics

    • Discussion of the 'invisible hand' metaphor indicating how personal interests drive market efficiency.

    • Smith argues for entrepreneurial choice over state-directed economic activity.

Transition to Modern Liberalism

  • Effects of the Industrial Revolution

    • Industrial advances brought economic and a significant social crisis, challenging the viability of classical liberalism.

    • Rise of welfare states post-Great Depression led to a shift in approaching governance.

  • John Maynard Keynes

    • Advocated for government intervention in managing economic cycles and preventing future depressions through demand management.

    • This Keynesian approach came to dominate post-World War II economic policy.

Neoliberalism

  • Emergence in the mid-1970s and gaining prominence in the 1980s under leaders like Reagan and Thatcher.

  • Key Principles

    • Focus on free markets, private property rights, entrepreneurial freedom, and less government intervention.

  • Criticism

    • Often characterized as market fundamentalism or increasing social inequality.

Conservatism Overview

  • Definitions and Nature

    • Often viewed as a right-wing ideology, resistant to radical change, emphasizing tradition, authority, and stability.

  • Historical Roots of Modern Conservatism

    • Established during the French Revolution as a response to the upheaval represented by revolutionary change, favoring historical institutions.

  • Core Themes

    • Tradition, human imperfection, organic society, hierarchy and authority, and property.

    • Conservatives tend to view human nature as flawed and emphasize slow, deliberate reform when change is necessary.

Conclusion of the Lecture

  • Reflections on the complex nature of ideological classifications are invited.

  • Upcoming activities and summation notes about socialist ideologies will flow into future discussions.

Lecture Interactivity

  • A game titled "Liberal or Conservative" will be introduced in later classes to engage students in identifying ideological statements and their classifications.

  • Student Contributions

    • Students are encouraged to share their thoughts and perspectives, leading to rich discussions on ideologies.