Conservatism is an ideology born out of the after math of the French Revolution, it is
mainly concerned with tradition, law, order and customs and values – the preservation
of traditional institutions
Traditional Conservatives:
Human Nature: General view of the ideology is that humans are imperfect + not
inclined to cooperation or reason. Instead, humans are self interested, emotional +
prone to error. It is for this reason that conservatism is often described as the
‘philosophy of imperfection’. Conservatives link this back to the original sin – humans
are inherently flawed, conservatives claim their view of human nature is realistic as
opposed to idealistic. Human nature is seen as fixed, therefore politicians should not
attempt to make grand efforts to alter this.
Thomas Hobbes (leviathan) – Bleak view of human nature: humans are inherently self
interested, mechanistic + competitive – argued that without a powerful state, humans
would exist in a ‘state of nature’ characterised by ‘envy, hatred and war’.
- In this condition there is no proper law + order so life would be ‘nasty, brutish
and short’.
- Hobbes did not believe humans were completely irrational – they have some
sense of cold rationality which leads to a realisation that they would best
function with a strong + authoritative state.
- Without strong order + security, people would revert to the ‘natural condition of
mankind’
Edmund Burke (reflections on the French Revolution) – believed humans are flawed
and limited. He famously stated ‘the march of the human mind is slow’.
- Burke also developed a new idea about human nature rooted in scepticism
rather than pessimism.
- Dismissed the idea that human nature could be adapted or changed to make a
better society
- Humans are emotionally driven and prone to error. Did not think humans were
inherently evil, just fallible and imperfect.
- Humans can only be capable of kindness + cooperation only if tradition is upheld
through the church and institutions.
- Unlike Hobbes, he did not believe humans were inherently individualistic – he
argued humans can be social and communicable. He believed humans are
shaped by small social groups, which he called ‘little platoons’ such as families,
churches and local communities – these groups provide a sense of moral
guidance + a sense of duty – restraining humans him acting excessively selfish
, One Nation Conservatives:
Michael Oakshott (on being conservative): humans possess an innate fear of the
unknown and the uncertain. People much rather prefer the familiar and tradition over
abstract change – this fear is innate, not learned.
- He did not believe life would be ‘nasty, brutish and short’ without a state, but
rather ‘noisy, foolish and flawed’ – reflects human imperfection rather than
inherent brutality
- Accepted humans are fallible and fragile, but also believed humans are
benevolent and benign
- People are ‘fallible but not terrible’ + ‘imperfect but not immoral’
- Humans are intellectually imperfect
New Right Conservatives: unlike traditional conservatives, the new right insists
that humans constantly yearn for freedom which drives enterprise, innovation and
economic success
Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged) –humans are naturally selfish and should embrace this
quality
- Insists altruism is a pernicious lie that is directly contrary to biological reality
- Humans are rational and self interested
- Objectivism theory – human life is found fundamentally on reason and rationality
- Ethical egoism – humans will always be guided by this and any attempt to
change this is coercive
- ‘Man is a being of self-made soul’
- Optimistic view of human nature because she believes selfishness is a positive
quality not a negative one
Robert Nozwick (Anarchy, state and Utopia) – core belief is that humans owned
themselves entirely
- Humans are born with natural rights
- Radical change interferes with individualism
- Quite laid back on things like homosexuality + abortion – humans are entitled to
make their own choices
- Upbeat of human nature – humans are the sole authors of their talents and their
abilities
mainly concerned with tradition, law, order and customs and values – the preservation
of traditional institutions
Traditional Conservatives:
Human Nature: General view of the ideology is that humans are imperfect + not
inclined to cooperation or reason. Instead, humans are self interested, emotional +
prone to error. It is for this reason that conservatism is often described as the
‘philosophy of imperfection’. Conservatives link this back to the original sin – humans
are inherently flawed, conservatives claim their view of human nature is realistic as
opposed to idealistic. Human nature is seen as fixed, therefore politicians should not
attempt to make grand efforts to alter this.
Thomas Hobbes (leviathan) – Bleak view of human nature: humans are inherently self
interested, mechanistic + competitive – argued that without a powerful state, humans
would exist in a ‘state of nature’ characterised by ‘envy, hatred and war’.
- In this condition there is no proper law + order so life would be ‘nasty, brutish
and short’.
- Hobbes did not believe humans were completely irrational – they have some
sense of cold rationality which leads to a realisation that they would best
function with a strong + authoritative state.
- Without strong order + security, people would revert to the ‘natural condition of
mankind’
Edmund Burke (reflections on the French Revolution) – believed humans are flawed
and limited. He famously stated ‘the march of the human mind is slow’.
- Burke also developed a new idea about human nature rooted in scepticism
rather than pessimism.
- Dismissed the idea that human nature could be adapted or changed to make a
better society
- Humans are emotionally driven and prone to error. Did not think humans were
inherently evil, just fallible and imperfect.
- Humans can only be capable of kindness + cooperation only if tradition is upheld
through the church and institutions.
- Unlike Hobbes, he did not believe humans were inherently individualistic – he
argued humans can be social and communicable. He believed humans are
shaped by small social groups, which he called ‘little platoons’ such as families,
churches and local communities – these groups provide a sense of moral
guidance + a sense of duty – restraining humans him acting excessively selfish
, One Nation Conservatives:
Michael Oakshott (on being conservative): humans possess an innate fear of the
unknown and the uncertain. People much rather prefer the familiar and tradition over
abstract change – this fear is innate, not learned.
- He did not believe life would be ‘nasty, brutish and short’ without a state, but
rather ‘noisy, foolish and flawed’ – reflects human imperfection rather than
inherent brutality
- Accepted humans are fallible and fragile, but also believed humans are
benevolent and benign
- People are ‘fallible but not terrible’ + ‘imperfect but not immoral’
- Humans are intellectually imperfect
New Right Conservatives: unlike traditional conservatives, the new right insists
that humans constantly yearn for freedom which drives enterprise, innovation and
economic success
Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged) –humans are naturally selfish and should embrace this
quality
- Insists altruism is a pernicious lie that is directly contrary to biological reality
- Humans are rational and self interested
- Objectivism theory – human life is found fundamentally on reason and rationality
- Ethical egoism – humans will always be guided by this and any attempt to
change this is coercive
- ‘Man is a being of self-made soul’
- Optimistic view of human nature because she believes selfishness is a positive
quality not a negative one
Robert Nozwick (Anarchy, state and Utopia) – core belief is that humans owned
themselves entirely
- Humans are born with natural rights
- Radical change interferes with individualism
- Quite laid back on things like homosexuality + abortion – humans are entitled to
make their own choices
- Upbeat of human nature – humans are the sole authors of their talents and their
abilities
