Lecture notes
Ideologies notes for Conservatism and Socialism
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Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679):● Traditional conservative
● Levithan (1651) - Argued for an absolute government +
sovereignty monarchy.
● An ordered society should balance the human need to lead a
free life.
● Humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray in
attempts to understand the world around them.
Edmund Burke (1729-1797):
● Traditional conservative
● Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790) - Criticised the
French Revolution and developed a number of key
conservative arguments.
● Change has to be taken with great caution, mindful of the
delicate balance inherent in an organic society.
● Traditional and empiricism should be respected because they
represent practices passed down from one generation to the
next.
Michael Oakeshott (1901-1990):
● One-nation conservative
● Rationalism in Politics (1962) & On Human Conduct (1975) -
Made a significant contribution to conservatism thinking on
human imperfection and pragmatism.
● People’s actions should be guided by pragmatism, rather than
by ideology.
● Theories and ideologies oversimplify complex situations.
Ayn Rand (1905-1982):
● Neoliberal conservative
● The Fountainhead (1943) & Atlas Shrugged (1957) -
Supported idea of laissez-faire capitalism and advocated the
virtues of rational.
● People should pursue their own happiness as their highest
moral.
● People should work hard to achieve a life of purpose and
productivity.
Robert Nozick (1938-2002):
● Neoliberal conservative
● Anarchy, State and Utopia (1974) - Argued for a rights-based
libertarian system and a minimal state.
● Individuals in society cannot be treated as a thing, or used
against their will as a resource.
● Individuals own their bodies, talents, abilities and labour.
, To what extent do conservatives agree on the role of the state? / United or Divided?
➔ More in disagreement than agreement.
➔ Traditional conservatives such as Thomas Hobbes and Edmund Burke called for a
strong state whilst New Right conservatives such as Robert Nozick and Ayn Rand
believe that the state should be as small as possible as humans are rational + can
make sensible decisions.
Human Nature:
Traditional conservatives:
➔ Thomas Hobbes could not imagine society existing without the state → anarchy.
➔ Believed that life should be ‘tough, brutish and short’ - state should own all power
(Leviathan - 1651).
New Right:
➔ Believed that as rational beings, individuals in society should be allowed to live
how they wanted to without any interference from the state.
➔ Robert Nozick → Nightwatchman state.
Economy:
All conservatives:
➔ Agree that there should be a free market where the government takes a
laissez-faire approach rather than implementing too many regulations - but
different strands take these different lengths.
New Right + Traditional conservatives:
➔ Ayn Rand + Robert Nozick → State should be free from government intervention
as this leads to egotism.
➔ Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged - 1957) → Allow people to trade freely - unlocks
potential.
➔ Edmund Burke → Agreed with Rand + Promoted laissez-faire capitalism.
One-nation conservatives:
➔ Michael Oakeshott → More optimistic than Hobbes + Burke but still had doubts
due to human imperfection → humans should be guided by pragmatism (complex).
Traditional conservatives:
➔ Thomas Hobbes → Free markets are not possible as it's too unpredictable (Calls
for ordered society). State regulation would remove monopolies + exploitation.
Society:
One-nation conservatives + Traditional conservatives:
➔ Government should be proactive in helping people → social welfare.
➔ Benjamin Disraeli (One Nation) → Humans have a duty to help those below them
(Noblesse Oblige). Therefore, social reforms for the state will help people get out
of poverty.
➔ Edmund Burke → Agrees + argues for empiricism as this represents previous
generations which gives them a right to rule over others.
New right:
➔ State should not intervene with economic activities + want an unregulated
economy. Also called for privatisation (Thatcherism).
➔ HOWEVER, agreed with One Nation that the Permissive Society doesn't exist (e.g
Thatcher banning homosexuality in schools) → goes against Rand’s beliefs of
intervening with people's liberty.
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