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Conservatism Principle Beliefs - Coggle Diagram
Conservatism Principle Beliefs
Human Nature
Conservative view is characterised by its opposition to rival, ‘progressive’, ideologies of socialism and liberalism.
Conservatives restrain optimism by stressing human frailty and fallibility.
’Philosophy of imperfection’
They deny the possibility of a perfect, utopian society, comprising flawless and rational individuals.
Highlight human nature ‘as it is’ not how it could be.
Reject the malleable view of human nature offered by socialism.
Scorns humanity can be perfect with the ‘correct’ environment or society.
Human nature is constant
Politicians’ jobs involve accommodating to this reality.
Conservative stress on human imperfection is subject to many thinkers’ interpretations.
Hobbes
Contrasts sharply with liberal thinker John Locke on the view of life in the ‘state of nature’.
Regarded human nature as ruthlessly selfish, calculating and competitive, arguing without the restraints of formal authroity, relations between humans would be marked by ‘envy, hatred and war’
Humans are needy and vulnerable, hence are likely to carry out destructive acts.
Prior to the emergence of state, there was no cooperation or voluntary agreements between individuals so no ‘natural rights’ as cited by liberals.
Hobbesian ‘state of nature’ was a place of scarce resources where individuals would be governed by self-interest.
‘Natural chaos’ stemmed from the absence of formal authority, enforcing an unquestioned code of right and wrong.
Without it, mankind forms its own version, leading to uncertainty and war.
However, because he did not view human nature as wholly irrational, he realised individuals would subject themselves to a contract upon realisation of self-interest.
Hobbes claimed the state would have to be autocratic as if powers were dispersed, conflicts within the state of nature would be replicated.
Hobbes argued that underpinning human nature was a cold rationality , eventually leading to warring individuals, leading to a formal state through forging a contract.
He is not the quintessential conservative, as such rational calculations places him closer to liberalism in terms of explaining human nature.
Burke
therefore has a stronger campaign on being the ‘father of Conservatism’.
He criticised recent events in France, as well as the thrust of Enlightenment thinking, including human nature inspiring it.
Rejected the idea that human nature was guided by reason, dismissing mankind could plan a near-perfect society.
Citing the biblical principle of origin sin, he highlighted the ‘chasm between our desire and our achievement’ where custom, habit and experience were signposts for how we should behave.
Did not think huamns were as brutally selfish, as Hobbes alleged.
Human beings were capable of kindness and altruism and wisdom as long as their actions were rooted in history, tradition and teachings of the Christian church.
Burke did not agree that human nature was ruthlessly individualistic.
Burke argued huamn nature was naturally communal, with individuals gaining comfort and support from ‘little platoons’.
‘Society is but a contract between the dead, the living and those yet to be born’
Linked to
Trustee Model
Burke and Hobbes exhibited scepticism in their view of human nature, ridiculing any idea of its flawlessness. Their ideas of huamn imperfection were distinct.
Oakeshott
’An instinctive preference for what is known, an innate fear of the uncertain’
Human nature when framed by routine, familiarity and religious principles can be ‘benign and benevolent’ as well as fragile.
Nozick and Rand
offered modifications to this view.
They were keen to highlight yearning for individual freedom, and subsequent capacity for enterprise and innovation.
New Right and traditional conservatives agreeed even the most enterprising individuals are ‘freedom-loving pack animals’, needing the periodic restraint of formal authority and deeply rooted communities.
Hobbes and the New Right took the view that human nature was driven by self-interest, yet both also take the view that human nature must be contained in order to provide some peace and stability in human affairs.
Tensions
Traditional conservative like
Burke
and
Oakeshott
take a sceptical view drawing attention to the gap between aspirations and achievement.
New Right thinkers are more optimistic, emphasising possibilities of individuals with initiative and liberty.
Nozick
and
Rand
take an especially positive view, marking human potential lies in fostering a pro-capitalist environment.
Society
Localism
Conservatives view society as a collection of localised communities, opposed to liberals belief of atomistic individuals.
Burke described these as ‘little platoons’
They provide individuals with security, status and inspiration, acting as a limit on selfish individuals.
One of Burke’s objections to the French Revolution was the overriding of local loyalties as it seemed to inaugurate a single monolithic French society.
Empiricism
Deal with society’s issues in a practical, evidential fashion with lack of predictability.
Sharp contrast to normative view taken by progressive ideologies of how society ought to be.
Oakeshott
The conservative society aims to stay afloat in uncertain waters, rather than sail towards a specific destination (equality) which may prove to be merely illusory
Organicism
Society is not created but emerges gradually, somewhat mysteriously.
Scepticism of liberal rationalism.
Unlike liberals in the belief of possibility in planning to determine its own fate.
Conservatives believe that human life is subject to complex external forces beyond the scope of reason.
Can never be wholly predicted.
Tradition
Customs and habits provide security in an uncertain world, with history and experience shaping whatever changes become necessary
Although change and reform are inevitable, they must be slow and not drastic, respectful of the past.
Hierarchy
View society in a less egalitarian way than liberals.
The imperfections of individuals lead seamlessly to inequalities within human nature, and thus, an unequal society.
The ‘wiser, stronger, and more opulent’ established a hierarchy of power and privilege.
Burke argues says hierarchies are so natural even little platoons have the structure.
With the privilege of power comes responsibility (
paternalism
).
Property
Conservative view on property is related to the support of tradition and community.
Rather than being independently acquired, property is a basis of inheritance providing a degree of stability in an imperfect world.
Tangible expression of Burke's 'partnership between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born'.
Connection to paternalism as those with property have a 'stake' in society, and to discourage revolution should have some concern for those less fortunate
Property provides a platform for owners to exercise a 'duty of care'.
New Right wish not to just preserve but to extend property ownership in society.
'Property ownership democracy'
Rand and Nozick
Those who own property are generally better placed to resist state-led incursions on their liberty, will be emboldened to justify the sor of unequal society conservatives defend.
New Right placing a particular emphasis on individual liberty distinguishes it from other strands, but concedes individualism is best pursued in a society valuing hierarchical and traditional structures.
They provide security and discipline that individuals need to flourish.
Judaeo- Christian Morality
Conservatism has a stronger attachment to religion, with the belief in the original sin of the Old Testament Christianity.
Conservative society offers the same ethical guidance of marriage, self-contained families, and individuals being held accountable.
Religious principles (altruism and compassion) help bind individuals together and curb the imperfections that both consrevatism and Christianity see as inherent to human nature.
Tensions
Traditional conservatives see society as a collection of small communities. overseen by hierarchical structure. These are organic.
New Right thinkers are ambivalent about society's existence, drawing libertarian belief that society is a mere collection of atomised individuals seeking self-determination.
Meritocratic v aristocratic.
The State
Order and Authority
The state has a disciplinary function, providing order, security, and authority,
Hobbes
, and other conservatives think without order there is no liberty, and there is no order until there is an emergence of clear, undisputed laws backed by firm authority.
The state precedes society
Liberal notions of 'natural rights' are fanciful as the feasibility of individual rights is entirely dependent on law and order.
Organic Origins
Conservatives are sceptical about states that arise momentarily from a formal 'rational' discussion.
These states are likely to be normative not empirical based on ideals rather than reality and therefore likely to founder.
Conservatives prefer a state that arises gradually, unpredictably, and without fanfare.
Because of this, conservatives are less likely to demand a codified constitution and more tolerant of UK-style arrangements.
A Ruling Class
State that is an overtly hierarchical reflecting elitist society they also endorse.
Traditional conservatives, from Burke onwards, were keen to signal merits of a class born to rule the state.
Show pragmatic and irical characteristics legislating when new laws were necessary and governing so as to ensure order and social cohesion.
Avert social upheaval and revolution by maintaining traditional patterns of wealth and power in society.
The Nation-State
In previous centuries, conservatives emphasised a state based on nationhood.
Being a mega-community, it provided a natural basis for the state.
Continental conservatives remain a powerful sense the nation preceded the state .
British and American conservatives, nation and state are far more intertwined , as the state serves to define the nation
This highlights the importance of constitutions, monarchs, and presidents as expressions of their identity.
This explains why they have a greater attachment to their continental counterparts and less enthusiasm for European political union.
New Right, the attitude to the state appears paradoxical
Strengthen the nation state by rolling back its frontiers .
Nozick and Rand however believe it is easily explained by if the nation-state is burdened by nationalised industries and welfare states it is harder to focus on the true function of order and security.
Tensions
Traditional conservatives defend a state where political power is wielded by those born to rule. Pragmatic and prepared to enlarge it in the name of one-nation and social stability.
New Right thinkers wish to reduce it to advance individual freedom and reduce dependency culture. Hostile to aristocracy.
The Economy
Capitalism nurtures inequalities.
Burke was a robust ally of Adam Smith, the father of laissez-faire economic theory.
Free market capitalism promotes risk and innovation so traditional conservatism’s view is nuanced.
Radical change threatens dreadful outcomes for traditional conservatives.
This circulates back to the more sceptical view of human nature.
‘Reluctant supporters’
Any assault on capitalism is assaulting property, inequality and hierarchy.
Supporting laissez-faire capitalism requires an optimistic view on market forces, inconsistent with conervatives’ pessimism.
Traditional conservatives support a moderated form of capitalism
Protectionsim
, society would be insured against the vagaries of markets and state-imposed tariffs and duties.
This is also inconsistent with the emphasis on national identity, offsetting globalising effects of free-market capitalism
Attracted to Keynesian capitalism whereby the state managed market forces in the interests of full employment.
The New Right have a more sympathetic view of free-market economies .
The New Right government of Thatcher aimed to free the UK economy by the privatisation of formerly state-owned industries.
Still complements traditional conservatism in a number of ways.
NR argues that by disengaging almost completely from the economy the state could focus on. It’s true Hobbesian purpose.
NR also argues that it would be a prosperous economy.
The prosporous economy might promote ‘popular capitalism’ and destroy socialism, but funding greater state spending on the police, armed forces and other agencies vital to the defence of conservative society.
Tensions
Traditional conservatives keen to defend an economy based on private ownership, sceptical of free-market capitalism. As capitalism becomes globalized, they fear market forces promote more cosmopolitan society that erodes national society and culture. They countenance Keynesian economics.
New Right thinkers advocate free-market economies where state functions are privatised and deregulated, taxation and state spending significantly reduced.
Nozick
disagrees with Burke and Hobbes as the individual is sovereign
Regarded taxation as ‘legalised theft’
Fiscally influence of Thatcher, but not socially as advocated for minimal state intervention such as lrelax on drug taking offence law.
Atomism
decisions made by the individual without state intervention, th outcome must always be a ‘just’ one.
Rand
Moral justification of capitalism, contrasts with post war consensus.
Wealth creators create jobs.