human nature

• pessimistic view of human nature 


  traditional conservatives take a sceptical view warning against the grand utopian schemes of progressive politicians

  french ands russian revolutions caused by misreading and overestimating human potential

  Rand - guided by rational self interest

  Nozick - individual are driven by a quest for self ownership

  Hobbes - individuals are selfish
• some agreement that rational humans need restraint


  traditional conservative hobbes and neoliberals Rand and Nozick agree

  hobbes believes this comes from the state which arises contractually for humans to provide law and order and security

  Rand and Nozick believe that this comes from the police to provide security and protect humans from themselves

  johnson 200000 police officers
• disagreement between traditional and one nation conservatives


  hobbes - pessimistic, individualistic, selfish, life without leviathan is disasterous but humans are rational and form social contracts

  burke - humans area imperfect but humans are not rational

  society is organic

  humans are naturally communal through the family and church

  leads to humans acting altruistic which contracts hobbes view that mankind are at war
• disagreement over neoliberals and traditional conservatives


  Rand = rational, should pursue happiness as highest moral aim

  Nozick = individuals are sovereign and so can’t be used as a resource against their will

  burke = pessimistic belief that humans can only thrive in organic society, rejected rationalism due to revolutions