Conservatism

• Thomas Hobbes on Human Nature

  • Cynical, humans are driven by a desire for supremacy and security
  • ruthlessly selfish and competitive
  • humans (without society) are brutish and competitive and are fundamentally self - interested
  • conservative view is that humans are psychologically, morally and intellectually flawed
  • Hobbes has a negative view on Human Nature because of the English Civil War 1642
• Thomas Hobbes on The State

  • state arises contractually from individuals seeking order and security
  • states power must be concentrated, if dispersed then conflicts within the state of nature would appear to arise
  • such a state would enable individuals to pursue self interest efficiently and less hazardously
  • absolute sovereign must impose order to avoid a 'state of nature'
  • rejects divine right of kings but accepts the authoritative role of the monarch
  • to obey the state is better than a 'state of nature'
• Thomas Hobbes on Society

  • The 'state of nature' is a pre-political state where people act out of self-interest
  • a creation of a sovereign is need to impose order
  • a state without a sovereign does not constitute a successful society
  • mankind in a state of nature left to form their own society would ultimately be divided and uncertain because of the different goals of individuals
  • life in a state of nature would be 'nasty, brutish and short'
• Thomas Hobbes on the Economy

  • state must guarantee order and security for an enduring economy to function
• Edmund Burke on Human Nature

  • Sceptical view on human nature, influenced by his view on the revolutions in France
  • French Revolution was shown to be a mass display of lower class unity against the ruling classes (aristocracy and monarchy) Burke dismissed this as he believed the French Revolution was unrealistic in its view of upbeat human potential and goals that everyone could be a citizen
  • because of our tendency to fall short of expectations as human are 'fallible' means that change should be slow and gradual
  • this would allow time to improve if an action is misjudged
• Edmund Burke on Society

  • 'little platoons' small communities of people where a minority exercises power over a majority to moderate competitive egoism of individuals
  • Burke believed society emerged gradually and organically however it still requires discipline and attention and is only possible once authority is established
  • Burke: best kind of society is a partnership between living, dead and those who are to be born - importance of tradition and preservation of wealth and knowledge
  • importance of paternalism, if upper class abandon their 'familial' role then it will cause tensions in society
• Edmund Burke on The State

  • State arises organically and should be aristocratic driven by a hereditary elite reared to rule society in the interests of all
• Michael Oakeshott on Human Nature

  • Forgiving view on human nature: 'fallible but not terrible' Although we often fail to meet expectations we are still capable of fellowship and kindness
  • humans are imperfect but are still able to 'secure pleasure through the humdrum business of everyday life'
  • optimistic conservativism reconciles with imperfection and means there is a greater appreciation for pleasures like family and friends
• Michael Oakeshott on the state

  • the state should be viewed like a ship, which prefers 'the familiar to the unknown, the tried to the untried.. and the actual to the possible'
  • we should keep the ship of state 'merely afloat': skeptical position in regards to state intervention does not believe that the state can create a society upon notions of social progress - ideas of pragmatism and one-nation conservativism
  • the state should be guided by tradition and practical concerns
• Michael Oakeshott on Society

  • Society is both modern and complex, and as such cannot be understood in abstract theories or principles
  • a perfect society is impossible but an improved one is not, localised communities are essential to the survival of humanity, especially when guided by short-term requirements instead of abstract ideas
  • 'a strong society protects us from an over-mighty government' by providing people with the support needed from authorities - providing members with fellowship and a sense of purpose
  • conservative society proceeds according to practical experience 'empiricism'