Conservatism - human nature

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  • Created by: mfwe
  • Created on: 22-05-19 11:43

Conservatism - human nature

Similarities

  • Trad and ON - human nature = imperfect, fixed - perfecting HN through some kind of 'ideal' society is wrong.
  • HN = morally, psychologically and intellectually imperfect.
  • Morally: all have ability to commit wrong. Trad + ON stress strong law and order - without it, life will be 'nasty, brutish and short' (Hobbes).
  • Psychologically: drawn to familar as we are dependent. Theory + idealism are dangerous (Burke, 'Reflections on the Rev in France') - stick to tried and tested tradition (valued by Trad and ON)
  • Intellectually: world is too 'boundless and bottomless' (Oakeshott) for us to understand. We can't change the world.
  • Some overlap in NR + Trad + ON: Neo-Cons strand of NR shares pessimistic view of HN, shown in increased powers to police under Thatcher + Michael Howard stating 'prison works'. Focus on prison as source of punishment (rather than rehab) - strong Neo-Cons support for death penalty in USA, as they believe HN can become so corrupt that it can no longer be reformed.
  • Hobbes, Rand and Nozick recognise rational humans will sometimes need restraint. R + N saw need for police to provide security and protect humans from themselves.

Differences

  • Between Trad and ON - Hobbes: pessitmistic view, humans are individualistic/selfish. Life without Leviathan = disastrous, but believes that humans are rational and will form social contract. Burke agrees that human nature is imperfect BUT rejects view that humans are rational. Also rejects Hobbes' individualistic view; society = organic, humans = naturally communal, based around family/church. Leads humans to acts of altruism, contrasts with Hobbes' view that mankind are at 'war'.
  • Oakeshott agrees with Burke (both less pessimistic than Hobbes) - HN = 'fragile and fallible'. Believes Hobbes went too far; society without law would not be 'not so nasty, brutish and short... as noisy, foolish and flawed'.
  • Neo-Lib strand of NR - optimistic view of HN. Emphasise atomistic individual, embrace individualism and rationalism.
  • Rand: objectivism. Sees humans as rational, should pursue own happiness as highest moral aim. Contrasts with Burke who rejected rationalism of French Rev as flawed.
  • Nosick: rejected pessimism of Burke + his belief that humans can only thrive in organic society. Sees individuals as sov - cannot be used as resource against their will. Nosick - agrees with Rand that individuals = rational.
  • Rand/Nozick: believed in potential of humanity to pursue own desires if left alone by state. Trad + ON rejected this: being left alone -> anomie, state of loneliness, confusion and stress. R/N rejected this.

Overall comparison

In conclusion, there is more agreement between Trad, ON and the Neo-Cons strand of the NR, but there are fundamental differences between Trad and ON, who have a pessimistic view of HN and the Neo-Lib strand, who sees HN in a positive way.

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