Conservatism - key concepts - Revision Cards in A Level and IB Government & Politics

Hierarchy and organic society

the idea of an organic society rose as a reaction to liberal individualism
it proposes that society is more than merely a collection of individuals, but it is a single entity
we are connected to each other through our humanity, and common membership of community
1980s, Margaret Thatcher famously said, "there is no such thing as society", implying that the goals of individuals are superior to those of society as a whole
traditional conservatives believe that there is a natural order into which each person fits
hierarchy supports organic society in that it creates an order and stability, which the individualistic society lacks
different parts of the hierarchy have different roles that complement each other
this implies inequality, but ordered inequality, and one in which those at the upper levels of the hierarchy are expected to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower orders (this is known as noblesse oblige)

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individual liberty - a fundamentally liberal principle, concerns mainly an absence of external restraint. It refers to the extent to which our acitivities as individuals or groups, may be constrained by laws, customs, or a moral code.
individualism - is a more positive concept and refers to choice, opportunity, and self-fulfilment
first individualism suggests that each individual and household should be presented with the widest possible range of choices and opportunities
the state should restrict such choices as little as possible, providing a link with liberal freedom
individualism also implies a sense of privacy and for conservatives, private life is not the concern of the state. A strong barrier should be preserved between the public and private spheres
the individual can best flourish in a stable social, moral, and economic environment
the continuity provided by these gives the necessary scenery in which individuals can best play their roles securely

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the most fundamental value of conservatism
humans are born with original sin (adam and eve) and must therefore be flawed
therefore, people are untrustworthy, self-seeking, and generally feckless (which explains the conservative view on having a strong and paternalistic state)
people are limited in three distinct ways, 1. morally, 2. psychologically, 3. intellectually
1. Morally - humans are innately selfish and greedy, and so strict law and punishment is needed, e.g long jail sentences, capital punishment
2. Psychologically - people are drawn to the safe and familiar, and seek the security of knowing their place, and so fear isolation, instability, and change. Therefore, conservatives are prepared to sacrifice liberty in the case of social order. The state's purpose is to provide security in an uncertain world, people seek rootedness
3. Intellectually - the world is too complicated for humans to fully grasp, e.g Oakeshott said, "the political world is boundless and bottomless"

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the most basic need of humans is for order and security, according to conservatives
without order, there is the fear society would return to a state of nature, where life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short", as Hobbes said.
in practice, people would consider themselves to be in competition with every other person. and therefore live in fear
Hobbes believed that humankind would choose to sacrifice much of its freedom and rights in favour of a securer existence
the only other way to achieve this would be through an absolute monarchy, protecting us from each other in the same way the state does
conservatives have preferred strong authority and have tended to favour the community's need for security over the rights of individuals

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conservative preference for tradition closely links to their desire for public order, as people are intellectually limited, and so must rely on precedent and tradition to act correctly
referring to tradition means both traditional institutions, such as the monarchy, as well as traditional values, such as marriage, religion, family etc.
the fact that values and institutions have survived is a testiment to their quality, and so must be preserved for future generations
as G. K. Chesterton said, "democracy of the dead", meaning the wisdom of previous generations should not be lost, and can be involved in current society
for example, as the monarchy has survived for many years in its traditional form, it provides people with a sense of security and continuity
as Burke said, "society is a partnership between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are yet to be born"
tradition generates a sense of identity, a sense of solidarity with ancestors

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the present generation is the custodian of the wealth of the nation, and has a duty to preserve and protect it
property provides security, it is something for people to fall back on
ownership of property promotes respect for other people's property, they have a stake in society, and an interest in law and order
property can be regarded as an extension of the owner's personality, people see themselves in what they own. Burglary is therefore so bad because it invades our personalities

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