Conservatism mindmap pt2
- Created by: ying25112004
- Created on: 09-01-23 09:53
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- Conservatism
- Human nature
- Overview: Human beings are limited in capacity and flawed. Disdain for orthodox Marxism because no one knows the absolute truth. Human nature is both negative and positive because they need security, law and order in order to protect and guard. They favor strong legal framework which lead people to familiar patterns of life
- - Stress on human frailty and fallibility. They deny any possibility of a perfect, utopian society. Human nature is fixed and constant
- Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) views humans as ruthlessly selfish, calculating and competitive. Without formal authority life would be marked by "envy, hatred or war" and lead to one that is "nasty, brutish and short"
- Underpinning human nature was rationality leading to a social contract which will lead to a formal state
- Burke stressed custom, habit and experience as a signpost of how one should behave, "chasm between our desire and our achievement"
- - Burke and Hobbes had a sceptical view of human nature BUT Burke didn't think humans were terrible, only fallible and that humans are capable of kindness and altruism so long as their actions were rooted in history, tradition and he teachings of the Christian Church. Burke disagreed that human nature was individualistic but rather communal from 'platoons'
- - Oakeshott conceded that humans were "fragile and fallible" but also "benign and benevolent "when framed by routine, familiarity and religious principles. So life without law would "not so much nasty, brutish and short... as noisy, foolish and flawed"
- Robert Nozick (1938-2002) and Ayn Rand (1905-82) highlighted human nature's yearning for individual freedom, and its subsequent capacity for enterprise and innovation, "freedom-loving pack animals"
- Society
- Overview: Society is organic, formed by the principles of tradition, authority and principled society, neo-liberals favor individual autonomy over cherishing society- stability, security and orderly
- Localism- Burke described "little platoons" where these communities provide their individuals with security, status and inspiration
- Empiricism- Deal with society's issues in a practical, evidential fashion. As Oakeshott observed society should aim to "stay afloat" in uncertain waters rather than sail towards a specific destination which may prove illusory
- Tradition- The effectiveness of an empirical, conservative society rests on traditions. Customs and habits are used to provide security in an uncertain world. Oakshott says "society's present direction stems from its past development". Change must be slow
- Hierarchy- Imperfections means that there are seamless inequalities within human nature which leads to an unequal society where Burke says "the wiser, stronger and more opulent" establish a hierarchy of power and privilege. With the privilege of power and authority comes responsibility known as paternalism or noblesse oblige
- Judaeo-Christian morality- Belief in the Old Testament idea of original sin means that there is an emphasis upon marriage, self-contained families, individuals being held accountable for their own actions and individuals being the product pf their 'dysfunctional' societies. Spiritual rewards of altruism and compassion binds individuals and curb imperfections
- Property- Property is closely tied to its support for tradition and continuity. Property is inherited so provides stability, Burke said it is a "partnership between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born". Ongoing maintenance of property is a metaphor for the ongoing maintenance of society so a change to conserve. Connection between property and a paternalistic society where property owners exercise a 'duty of care' towards others. New Right want to extend property ownership throughout society, as Nozick says a "property-owning democracy". Property owners can resist state-led incursions on liberty
- Human nature
- Organicism- Conservatives see the reality of an unplanned organic society, proof that human life is complex and subject to forces beyond the scope of reason. Society grows in a way tat can't be predicted
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