Conservatism - Core Themes
- Created by: powrieannie
- Created on: 16-05-16 09:02
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- Core Themes of Conservatism
- Tradition
- Tradition can reflect religious faith
- Traditional customs and practices are regarded as 'God given'
- BURKE: Society was shaped by 'natural law'
- By changing society, we are tampering with the will of God.
- BURKE: Society was shaped by 'natural law'
- Traditional customs and practices are regarded as 'God given'
- BURKE: society is a partnership between 'those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born'.
- Tradition creates a sense of identity for both society and the individual which in turn generates social cohesion
- Tradition can reflect religious faith
- Human Imperfection
- Human beings are:
- Psychologically limited and security seeking
- Dependent, Drawn to the known, the familiar and the tried and tested
- Irrational, unreliable and morally corrupt
- Imperfect and imperfectible
- Seek the security of knowing 'their place'
- O'Sullivan (1976): Conservatism is a 'philosophy of human imperfection'
- Emphasis is placed on social order.
- This ensures stability and predictability
- Hobbes: 'sacrificing liberty the cause of social order'
- Crime & Punishment
- Immoral or criminal behaviour is rooted in the individual.
- Hobbes: Humans are morally imperfect
- They are innately selfish and greedy, and cannot be perfected
- This is often accounted to 'original sin'
- They are innately selfish and greedy, and cannot be perfected
- Crime is a consequesnce of base human instincts and appetities
- The only effective deterrent is strict law enforcement
- Hobbes: Humans are morally imperfect
- Immoral or criminal behaviour is rooted in the individual.
- Human beings are:
- Organic Society
- Society is an organism or living entity
- It exists outside of the individual
- It is held together by the bonds of tradition, authority and a common morality
- Durkheim: Without social cohesion there is a will be a state of anomie (normlessness)
- Society is an organism or living entity
- Hierarchy and Authority
- Hierarchy
- Social mobility on a large scale is dangerous
- There must be leaders and followers
- The rich rule the poor
- Noblesse Oblige: Privilege entails responsibility
- Paternalism: authority being exercised over others with the intent of conferring benefit or preventing harm
- The rich rule the poor
- Nature and society are naturally hierarchical
- Social equality is: undesirable, unattainable
- Authority
- Is necessary and beneficial
- People need guidance in order to know their place
- Should be limited naturally, not constitutionally
- Does not arise out of a 'contract'
- Consent is not required
- Comes from ABOVE, not BELOW
- Consent is not required
- Is necessary and beneficial
- Hierarchy
- Property
- Provides security
- Promotes respect
- Property owners have a 'stake' in society
- This gives them more interest in law and order (as they will not breach the property of another)
- Property owners have a 'stake' in society
- Something for the individual to fall back on
- Promotes respect
- The current generations are the 'custodians of wealth'
- People have a duty to protect it
- Provides security
- Tradition
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