Conservatism Revision Pack
Context of Conservatism
- Conservatism is a form of change
# not only about conserving
- It champions changing to conserve
changing to conserve - the principle that conservatism that indicates a belief that for something valuable to be
preserved, it has to be continuously updates and maintained
- By-product of the enlightenment
- It is rooted in a wish to ensure that progress is compatible with both experience and security
# does not reject the enlightenment or “progress”
- Change should be about repair and careful adjustment, rather than total demolition and a wish to
start from scratch
Conservatism denies that humanity can be positively reshaped within the ‘correct’ environment or society
- Human nature is constant and imperfect
# as a result, some thinkers have described conservatism as a ‘philosophy of imperfection’
Key Thinker No.1 – Thomas Hobbes (17th century/traditional conservatism)
Human nature
- He has a cynical view of human nature, arguing it was ruthless egotistical and likely to commit
cruel and destructive acts
# prior to the emergence of the state, there was no co-operation or voluntary arrangements
between individuals and therefore none of the ‘natural rights’
- In Hobbesian state of nature, human nature was shaped by a restless desire for the acquisition of
goods and a distrust of others with a constant fear of death
# ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’
- However, Hobbes also agreed that the human condition would improve due to our capacity for
reason
# individuals would realise the state of nature was an obstacle, and they would establish for
themselves a state which ensured order and security
State
- Traditional conservatives argue that safety and security are impossible without authority and law
and order
# there can be no law and order without a state
- Hobbes was also more comfortable with a state that is openly hierarchal and elitist
# reflecting the unequal society, they defended
Hierarchical – uneven distribution of power and among individuals within the state (the equality of status and
power is unnatural; society requires leadership from a small number of people)
- He further argued that in order to maintain peace, the state’s power would have to be
concentrated
# turns the state into a “leviathan” that would ensure order
- For Hobbes, ‘natural chaos’ stemmed from the absence of any formal authority
# however, eventually, humans would make an agreement with the sovereign state, allowing
individuals to enjoy security and progress (which was absent in the state of nature)
Society
, Conservatism Revision Pack
- Unlike socialists and liberals, Hobbs dismisses the idea that society is natural, or that somehow it
predates the state
# given his sceptical view of human nature, Hobbes thought it was impossible for us to interact in
a society without law and order
- With reference to the French Revolution, Hobbes argued that once law and order collapse, the
various trapping such as natural rights disappear
- For this reason, traditional conservatives see natural laws/natural rights as a dangerous fantasy
Economy
- Given his support for a society which defends private property and inequality, it is unsurprising
conservatives back capitalism
# traditional conservatives usually support capitalism and private enterprise
# however, they recognise that lassez-faire capitalism can be dangerous and destabilise the
economy connects with their views of order
Key Thinker No. 2 – Edmund Burke (18th century/traditional conservatism)
Human nature
- Similar to Hobbes, Burke also has a sceptical view of human nature
# The French Revolution offered a vision of a utopian society, where human misery was erased
- However, Burke dismissed such ideas, claiming it was based on an optimistic view of human
nature
# human nature is fixed and unchangeable
State
- Traditional conservatives argue that safety and security are impossible without authority and law
and order
# there can be no law and order without a state
- Burke was also more comfortable with a state that is openly hierarchal and elitist
# reflecting the unequal society, they defended
- Burke was keen on the notion of a ruling class – one that was born and bred to rule the state
# however, as a Whig who generally supported the Enlightenment, Burke also stated government
should be restricted by a constitution
Society
- Unlike socialists and liberals, Burke dismisses the idea that society is natural, or that somehow it
predates the state
# given his sceptical view of human nature, Burke thought it was impossible for us to interact in a
society without law and order
- With reference to the French Revolution, Burke argued that once law and order collapse, the
various trapping such as natural rights disappear
- For this reason, traditional conservatives see natural laws/natural rights as a dangerous fantasy
- In addition, traditional conservatives believe a good society values tradition
Tradition – linked to opinions handed down from one generation to the next
Furthermore, Burke argued that the beneficiaries of inequality had a crucial responsibility
# this relationship is usually described as paternalism
Paternalism – the obligations that society’s stronger and richer classes have towards the less fortunate and
society as a whole
- According to Burke, if they upper classes neglect his ‘familial’ responsibility, it will cause tension
within society
- A conservative society is also more likely to stress the value of private property
# Burke argued property is the perfect example of something that is often inherited and provides
a partnership between the living, the dead and the yet to be born
# property represents a force for stability and the avoidance of revolution
Context of Conservatism
- Conservatism is a form of change
# not only about conserving
- It champions changing to conserve
changing to conserve - the principle that conservatism that indicates a belief that for something valuable to be
preserved, it has to be continuously updates and maintained
- By-product of the enlightenment
- It is rooted in a wish to ensure that progress is compatible with both experience and security
# does not reject the enlightenment or “progress”
- Change should be about repair and careful adjustment, rather than total demolition and a wish to
start from scratch
Conservatism denies that humanity can be positively reshaped within the ‘correct’ environment or society
- Human nature is constant and imperfect
# as a result, some thinkers have described conservatism as a ‘philosophy of imperfection’
Key Thinker No.1 – Thomas Hobbes (17th century/traditional conservatism)
Human nature
- He has a cynical view of human nature, arguing it was ruthless egotistical and likely to commit
cruel and destructive acts
# prior to the emergence of the state, there was no co-operation or voluntary arrangements
between individuals and therefore none of the ‘natural rights’
- In Hobbesian state of nature, human nature was shaped by a restless desire for the acquisition of
goods and a distrust of others with a constant fear of death
# ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short’
- However, Hobbes also agreed that the human condition would improve due to our capacity for
reason
# individuals would realise the state of nature was an obstacle, and they would establish for
themselves a state which ensured order and security
State
- Traditional conservatives argue that safety and security are impossible without authority and law
and order
# there can be no law and order without a state
- Hobbes was also more comfortable with a state that is openly hierarchal and elitist
# reflecting the unequal society, they defended
Hierarchical – uneven distribution of power and among individuals within the state (the equality of status and
power is unnatural; society requires leadership from a small number of people)
- He further argued that in order to maintain peace, the state’s power would have to be
concentrated
# turns the state into a “leviathan” that would ensure order
- For Hobbes, ‘natural chaos’ stemmed from the absence of any formal authority
# however, eventually, humans would make an agreement with the sovereign state, allowing
individuals to enjoy security and progress (which was absent in the state of nature)
Society
, Conservatism Revision Pack
- Unlike socialists and liberals, Hobbs dismisses the idea that society is natural, or that somehow it
predates the state
# given his sceptical view of human nature, Hobbes thought it was impossible for us to interact in
a society without law and order
- With reference to the French Revolution, Hobbes argued that once law and order collapse, the
various trapping such as natural rights disappear
- For this reason, traditional conservatives see natural laws/natural rights as a dangerous fantasy
Economy
- Given his support for a society which defends private property and inequality, it is unsurprising
conservatives back capitalism
# traditional conservatives usually support capitalism and private enterprise
# however, they recognise that lassez-faire capitalism can be dangerous and destabilise the
economy connects with their views of order
Key Thinker No. 2 – Edmund Burke (18th century/traditional conservatism)
Human nature
- Similar to Hobbes, Burke also has a sceptical view of human nature
# The French Revolution offered a vision of a utopian society, where human misery was erased
- However, Burke dismissed such ideas, claiming it was based on an optimistic view of human
nature
# human nature is fixed and unchangeable
State
- Traditional conservatives argue that safety and security are impossible without authority and law
and order
# there can be no law and order without a state
- Burke was also more comfortable with a state that is openly hierarchal and elitist
# reflecting the unequal society, they defended
- Burke was keen on the notion of a ruling class – one that was born and bred to rule the state
# however, as a Whig who generally supported the Enlightenment, Burke also stated government
should be restricted by a constitution
Society
- Unlike socialists and liberals, Burke dismisses the idea that society is natural, or that somehow it
predates the state
# given his sceptical view of human nature, Burke thought it was impossible for us to interact in a
society without law and order
- With reference to the French Revolution, Burke argued that once law and order collapse, the
various trapping such as natural rights disappear
- For this reason, traditional conservatives see natural laws/natural rights as a dangerous fantasy
- In addition, traditional conservatives believe a good society values tradition
Tradition – linked to opinions handed down from one generation to the next
Furthermore, Burke argued that the beneficiaries of inequality had a crucial responsibility
# this relationship is usually described as paternalism
Paternalism – the obligations that society’s stronger and richer classes have towards the less fortunate and
society as a whole
- According to Burke, if they upper classes neglect his ‘familial’ responsibility, it will cause tension
within society
- A conservative society is also more likely to stress the value of private property
# Burke argued property is the perfect example of something that is often inherited and provides
a partnership between the living, the dead and the yet to be born
# property represents a force for stability and the avoidance of revolution
