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Conservatism key thinkers - Coggle Diagram
Conservatism key thinkers
Thomas Hobbes
Traditional
Key work 'The Leviathan' 1651
Views:
Human nature
Humans are imperfect and self interested (negative view on human nature)
Humans require authority, such as throuhg a monarch, to achieve order.
'State of nature' describes society before the existence of a state/authority. Life would be little more than a 'perpetual and restless desire for power and power that only ceaseth in death'.
Humans would naturally seek order by realising how dis orderly their lives are without an authority. They require a contract where individuals give up freedoms to an all powerful soverign.
State
Life cannot exist without a state
Quotes:
Human nature: without an authority/state, life would be 'nasty, brutish and short'.
Human nature: Describing life before the existence of the state, life would be a 'perpetual and restless desire for power and power that only ceaseth in death'.
Edmund Burke
Traditional
Key work 'reflections on the revolution in france' 1790
Views
Human nature
Similar to Hobbes
Society:
Organic society, which should 'change to conserve'. These changes in society should be guided by empiricism (that changes in society should be based on knowledge and experience rather than abstract theories).
This view on society was fueled by the french revolution which disregarded empiricism.
Hierachial society, opposed to extending franchise
Quotes
'Politics ought to be adjusted not to human reasonings but to human nature, of which reason is but a part but by no means the greatest part' : pro - empiricism and cautious change
Michael Oakeshotte
Traditional
Key work 'On being conservative' 1956
Views:
Human nature:
Society:
Pro - tradition: Organic society which provides customs and traditions creating 'consolation, comfort and happiness'.
Benjamin disraeli
One nation
Ayn Rand
Neo - liberal (new right)
Robert Nozick
Neo liberal (new right)