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CONSERVATISM:To what extent do conservatives have a common view on human nature?
- If you were to add a third point, talk about individuals' innate desire to bind together in
communities, importance of family, little platoons, etc.
- More disagreement than agreement and this underpins much of the disagreement in other
key areas.
Morality:
- All conservatives argue that individuals are innately selfish.
- Hobbes argues that within the state of nature life would be ‘nasty, brutish, and short’ due
to the fact that without a society/state, i.e. when left to our own devices individuals will
act in purely selfish means - rooted in original sin.
- Rand agreed that humans are innately selfish and naturally seek to protect themselves
over others.
- Due to the belief that all individuals are innately selfish all conservatives therefore
recognise the importance of law and order, alongside traditional moral values (neo-
conservative, e.g. family) to create a cohesive and stable society.
- There is a point of difference as to whether humans being selfish is a vice or virtue
amongst conservatives and this ultimately underpins the tension within conservatism.
- Traditional and One-Nation conservatives argue that the fact humans are imperfect due to
being selfish means that we require a state which offers paternalism and authority to
ensure order is preserved - pessimistic attitude.
- They also prefaced the importance of hierarchy (noblesse oblige) in attempts to improve
society and facilitate the communal nature of humans - remove/dampen selfishness.
- Point of difference between traditionalists who promote hierarchy versus one-nation
(Oakshott) places greater emphasis on paternalism as they have a more optimistic idea of
human nature. Through paternalism and pragmatic reform individuals could become
better off and most crime occurs as a result of being poor - social need rather than social
disorder.
- Alternatively, New Right thinkers argue that humans’ selfishness is in fact a virtue and
that selfishness should be promoted within a free-market economy. For example, Rand
rejected the concept of altruism and promoted atomistic individualism.
Intellectually:
- All conservatives argue that we are somewhat irrational beings.
, - This can be shown by the fact that all conservatives recognise the need for a state which
provides law and order, due to the fact that anarchy would breed chaos due to the nature
of humans.
- Due to not being fully rational there is an emphasis on the importance of empiricism as
through experience we can come to a better understanding on what works.
- Difference between conservatives regarding the extent to this.
- Rand argued that individuals possess the ability to be wholly rational therefore should act
as individuals and exercise their reason.
- Therefore as shown within Rand’s idea of objectivism individuals should be able to act in
their own self-interest within a free market society (self-reliant).
- Oakshott on the other hand did not see individuals and rational, so promoted paternalistic
measures as he thought the government knew what was best for individuals, e.g.
Keynesian economics.
- Hobbes took this further and thought humans were irrational beings and needed tradition,
order, and authority to preside over them to maintain the organic society and prevent
chaos.
To what extent are different conservatives in agreement on the economy?
Capitalism:
- All conservatives promote capitalism and do not think the govt should be responsible for
allocating resources.
- Capitalism is the most efficient mechanism through which resources can be allocated.
- Individuals should have the capacity and freedom to make decisions in order to develop
their talents and abilities - but there should also be some restraints
- One-Nation and Traditional promote keynesian economics - due to their view on human
nature.
- New Right promotes laissez-faire. Emerged as a result of the economic crisis in the 1970s
whereby there was stagnation and rising inflation, so Thatcher adopted a monetarist
approach.
State’s role:
- All conservatives believe the state should have a limited role in the economy.
- State play an important role to protect property rights, as property ownership is vital
amongst all conservatives and within society (whether atomistic or organic) - reduce
dependency on state and give individuals a stake within society.
- State’s primary role is to create stability through law and order rather than to intervene in
the economy - economy tends to be more efficient when run alone.
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