Traditional conservatism

• Human Nature

  • Human imperfection/original sin - they believe that as humans, we are flawed individuals psycologically, morally and interlectually so we need disipline from above
  • Tradition - rationalists overlook our limitations - the politics of faith and utopian ideologies are rigid and dangerous
  • The conservative disposition - at time we all naturally prefer the tried to the untried
• Society

  • Organic society - we are born into a web of duties, hierarchy is natural, leaders must be parternal, all organs need to be healthy.
  • Pragmatism - reform over innovation, change in order to conserve, be prejudiced in favour of proven instituions.
  • Civil society - it is the voluntary, traditional little platoons that form us/make us fit for freedom. Through socialisation in schools, churches and clubs, we learn ot take responsibility for our actions and appreciate the duties we have to others.
• The State

  • Freedom and order - freedom requires a form of social contract with individuals voluntarily sacrificing some of their rights in the hope that a powerful authority would be better able to enforce them.
  • Natural aristocracy/paternalism - by virtue of their privileged birth, some are better to make decisions in the national interest.
  • A civil association that persues intimations makes non-instrumental rules, rather than an ideologial enterprise association.
• The Economy

  • Qualified support for capitalism - it produces great wealth but disrupts hierarchy and tradition. The emerging middle class and landowners challenged feudal relationships.
  • Feudal approach to property - holders have duties to their decendents and the less fortunate.
  • Free markets are preferable to rationalist attempts to innovate and centrally plan. Property rights should not be undermined and inequality and heigherarchy are unnatural