CONS human imperfection

• HN is immutable, flawed psychologically, morally, and intellectually
• Psychologically ->endorse Hobbes' view which prioritises social order over liberty
• Psychologically -> humans are limited and dependent, craving the security of knowing their place in the hierachy
• Psychologically -> order provides security and stability, liberty raises the unsettling prospect of choice and uncertainty
• Moral -> humans are inherently greedy and selfish, so conservatives encourage competition
• Moral -> anti-social and criminal behaviour due to moral failings and not economic or social disadvantage
• Moral -> advocate for a robust law and order system e.g. the Illegal Migration bill, longer sentences, and more police
• Intellectual -> intellect and reasoning for humans is limited
• Intellectual -> reject theories/ideologies that try to explain/predict the development of human society, instead argue humans should draw on tradition and practise pragmatism
• Traditional + One Nation

  • Flawed - psychologically and morally and intellectually
  • P -> security driven and socially dependent. Rely on tradition and culture for an identity.
  • M -> inherent selfish creatures, linked to the ‘original sin’, crime is due to moral failings not social conditioning
  • I -> reality is beyond human rational understanding
• Traditional

  • Very negative view of human nature
  • Hobbes -> individuals driven by self interest
  • Burke -> agrees with human imperfection but is less negative, believed in empiricism over rationalism
  • Oakeshott -> focus on intellectual imperfection, dismissed rational ideas like Keynesiasm
• One Nation

  • Less pessimistic but believe in a hierarchal, organic society where individuals are protected from inherent selfishness by the state
  • Acknowledge structure of society can contribute to rates of crime and disorder
• Neo conservatives

  • Same view as traditional
• Neo liberals

  • More positive, individualism over state and society
  • Rand -> humans capable of rational thought and should be ‘objectivist’ in pursuing self interest
  • Nozick -> humans are rational and driven by ideas of self-ownership + talent