Conservatism arose in response to the idealism after the French revolution. Its foundations are based on tradition, social order and pragmatism.
Key Strand of Human nature The state Society The economy
Thinker conservatism
Thomas Traditional Cynical view as believes Social contract originated during the Mechanistic view of society Self-interest and property ownership
Hobbes humans are selfish and driven age of enlightenment. -freedom, in a civil society depends on
Late by ‘ruthless self-interest’ The state arises contractually, to the ‘silence of the laws’ (rule of laws)
1500- -humans have a desire for maintain social order. -Society works best in commonwealth,
1600 supremacy and security -people give their consent to be with a network of contracts and
governed relationships
-empiricism
Edmund Traditional Humans are imperfect and Pragmatic view Organic society-‘to love the little Laissez faire’ view on the economy
Burke irrational Sceptical of human -Trustee model of representation, platoon we belong to in society’ -favours property rights
Late 1700 nature, ‘the cooked timber of which establishes a hierarchical view Society is a collection of localised -The ‘market settles’ when left alone
humanity’- gap between of the state communities
aspiration and achievement -‘the ruling class is inevitable and ‘society is but a contract between the
desirable’ dead, the living and the yet to be born’
Michael One nation ‘Fallible but not terrible’ Believes in the rule of law Society can evolved while maintaining Free markets are volatile and
Oakeshott -Noblesse Oblige -a state should achieve social unity tradition unpredictable and require pragmatic
1900 -Humans are national but and be pragmatic ‘little platoons’-host of small moderation by the state
must be guided by practical communities as society is multi-faceted
and pragmatic concerns rather
than theory
Ayn Rand New right ‘Objectivism’, Humans are Role of the state should be minimised Society is atomistic Complete economic freedom and
1900 rationally driven for the The government should ‘keep its lasses faire economics
pursuit of ‘self-fulfilment ‘ hands off’ -Property rights
-against welfare provision
-Individuals seek ‘autonomy
and space’
Robert New right Humans are egotistical and Taxation is a form of ‘legalised theft’ Leads to a plethora of small, variable ‘Government regulation of markets
Nozick driven for ‘self-ownership’ ‘no state more extensive than the communities prohibits capitalist acts’
Late 1900 -Humans are rational agents minimal state is justified’
and are self-aware
, Liberalism-Key thinkers
Key Thinker Strand of Human nature The state Society The economy
Liberalism
John Locke Classical Individuals are rational CONSENT Wary of rapid social Mercantilist, so favours a budget
1600-1700 beings Government should be limited and only there to change surplus
Self-ownership protect property and liberty Criticises hereditary Condemns work that doesn’t
Social contract- Two way relationship between the monarchy and promote economic growth
state and individuals paternalism
‘no one can be subjected to the political power of -Tolerance
another without his own consent’
Mary Classical Equality of opportunity, Monarchical state should be replaced by a republic Believed radical and Shared economic views with Adam
Wollstonecraft liberty and rights which enshrines women’s rights ideologically driven Smith
late 1700s -Rationalism defines both change is troublesome -property should be inherited
genders -religion as a core part of
society
John Stuart Bridge Individualistic –‘ the Representative democracy Promotes debate and Power in free markets but according
Mill between individual is sovereign’ REPRESENTATION discussion, and favours to the harm principle- governments
1800 classical -fundamentally rational ’A party of order and stability’ alongside ‘a party of tolerance can intervene
and progress or reform are necessary’ -Favoured flat taxes
modern
John Rawls Modern Humans must be ENABLING STATE Equality of opportunity -Equality of opportunity
1900 liberalism reasonable and tolerant Social contract -the society chosen by -neither lasseiz faire economic or
-Mankind is selfish yet The state failure of political liberty most would aid the socialist command economy
empathetic -the state should be more than a welfare state and poorest people in the
have polices to help the least fortunate at the population
heart of their agenda e.g. positive discrimination
’Political power rapidly accumulates and becomes
unequal’
Betty Friedan Modern Women are at the bottom Full equal partnership Equal share of roles for Capitalism and its dominance by
liberalism of the hierarchy of needs PREVENT discrimination the genders men is to blame for gender
so are unable to achieve ’The feminist revolution’ inequality.
self-actualisation
, Liberalism – key ideas/ principles
Core ideas on.. Agreement Classical Liberalism view Modern liberal view
Human nature -Equality as humans are rational and Humans are rational individuals and prefer Individuals crave freedom but have to understand they have
capable of self-improvement to pursue their enlightened self-interest obligations to help the less fortunate
-Require freedom to unlock rationality -negative freedom (absence of barriers or -Rational in the sense that we are altruistic
-Rational individuals constraints) -positive freedom (freedom to do something)
-Suspicious of growing democracy -Favour expanding democratic rights and values
The state -Limited role for the state – based on Positive freedom= larger role for the state
Dividing ideas) representative democracy Positive freedom facilitates the concept of the welfare state
-State acts as the night-watchman e.g. to --they understand the state needs checks and balances to
ensure legal contracts are upheld or that prevent it becoming the enemy and they favour decentralisation
the market place runs smoothly of power
State is a social contract between the -state intervention can be justified on the grounds of social
people- people give up some freedom for justice, equality and welfare
state security
Society Collection of self-interested individuals -Society should embrace a degree of social welfare and social
-fears welfare justice
-fears the state acting in society -individualism should be tempered by social action
-support meritocracy as hard work benefits -society has responsibilities
your outcomes
-Society is bounded together through
foundational equality
The economy Laissez-faire economics-Free market But modern liberalism- mixed approach to prevent market failure
capitalism or injustice
-No role for the state -Wealth should be in the hands on the individuals but support
those who need help
Liberty/freedom Agreement- liberty is a foundation of John Stuart Mill book on Liberty-
liberal ideology foundation of the ideology
BUT- Deviation on maximising liberty
Individualism
Equality
Key Strand of Human nature The state Society The economy
Thinker conservatism
Thomas Traditional Cynical view as believes Social contract originated during the Mechanistic view of society Self-interest and property ownership
Hobbes humans are selfish and driven age of enlightenment. -freedom, in a civil society depends on
Late by ‘ruthless self-interest’ The state arises contractually, to the ‘silence of the laws’ (rule of laws)
1500- -humans have a desire for maintain social order. -Society works best in commonwealth,
1600 supremacy and security -people give their consent to be with a network of contracts and
governed relationships
-empiricism
Edmund Traditional Humans are imperfect and Pragmatic view Organic society-‘to love the little Laissez faire’ view on the economy
Burke irrational Sceptical of human -Trustee model of representation, platoon we belong to in society’ -favours property rights
Late 1700 nature, ‘the cooked timber of which establishes a hierarchical view Society is a collection of localised -The ‘market settles’ when left alone
humanity’- gap between of the state communities
aspiration and achievement -‘the ruling class is inevitable and ‘society is but a contract between the
desirable’ dead, the living and the yet to be born’
Michael One nation ‘Fallible but not terrible’ Believes in the rule of law Society can evolved while maintaining Free markets are volatile and
Oakeshott -Noblesse Oblige -a state should achieve social unity tradition unpredictable and require pragmatic
1900 -Humans are national but and be pragmatic ‘little platoons’-host of small moderation by the state
must be guided by practical communities as society is multi-faceted
and pragmatic concerns rather
than theory
Ayn Rand New right ‘Objectivism’, Humans are Role of the state should be minimised Society is atomistic Complete economic freedom and
1900 rationally driven for the The government should ‘keep its lasses faire economics
pursuit of ‘self-fulfilment ‘ hands off’ -Property rights
-against welfare provision
-Individuals seek ‘autonomy
and space’
Robert New right Humans are egotistical and Taxation is a form of ‘legalised theft’ Leads to a plethora of small, variable ‘Government regulation of markets
Nozick driven for ‘self-ownership’ ‘no state more extensive than the communities prohibits capitalist acts’
Late 1900 -Humans are rational agents minimal state is justified’
and are self-aware
, Liberalism-Key thinkers
Key Thinker Strand of Human nature The state Society The economy
Liberalism
John Locke Classical Individuals are rational CONSENT Wary of rapid social Mercantilist, so favours a budget
1600-1700 beings Government should be limited and only there to change surplus
Self-ownership protect property and liberty Criticises hereditary Condemns work that doesn’t
Social contract- Two way relationship between the monarchy and promote economic growth
state and individuals paternalism
‘no one can be subjected to the political power of -Tolerance
another without his own consent’
Mary Classical Equality of opportunity, Monarchical state should be replaced by a republic Believed radical and Shared economic views with Adam
Wollstonecraft liberty and rights which enshrines women’s rights ideologically driven Smith
late 1700s -Rationalism defines both change is troublesome -property should be inherited
genders -religion as a core part of
society
John Stuart Bridge Individualistic –‘ the Representative democracy Promotes debate and Power in free markets but according
Mill between individual is sovereign’ REPRESENTATION discussion, and favours to the harm principle- governments
1800 classical -fundamentally rational ’A party of order and stability’ alongside ‘a party of tolerance can intervene
and progress or reform are necessary’ -Favoured flat taxes
modern
John Rawls Modern Humans must be ENABLING STATE Equality of opportunity -Equality of opportunity
1900 liberalism reasonable and tolerant Social contract -the society chosen by -neither lasseiz faire economic or
-Mankind is selfish yet The state failure of political liberty most would aid the socialist command economy
empathetic -the state should be more than a welfare state and poorest people in the
have polices to help the least fortunate at the population
heart of their agenda e.g. positive discrimination
’Political power rapidly accumulates and becomes
unequal’
Betty Friedan Modern Women are at the bottom Full equal partnership Equal share of roles for Capitalism and its dominance by
liberalism of the hierarchy of needs PREVENT discrimination the genders men is to blame for gender
so are unable to achieve ’The feminist revolution’ inequality.
self-actualisation
, Liberalism – key ideas/ principles
Core ideas on.. Agreement Classical Liberalism view Modern liberal view
Human nature -Equality as humans are rational and Humans are rational individuals and prefer Individuals crave freedom but have to understand they have
capable of self-improvement to pursue their enlightened self-interest obligations to help the less fortunate
-Require freedom to unlock rationality -negative freedom (absence of barriers or -Rational in the sense that we are altruistic
-Rational individuals constraints) -positive freedom (freedom to do something)
-Suspicious of growing democracy -Favour expanding democratic rights and values
The state -Limited role for the state – based on Positive freedom= larger role for the state
Dividing ideas) representative democracy Positive freedom facilitates the concept of the welfare state
-State acts as the night-watchman e.g. to --they understand the state needs checks and balances to
ensure legal contracts are upheld or that prevent it becoming the enemy and they favour decentralisation
the market place runs smoothly of power
State is a social contract between the -state intervention can be justified on the grounds of social
people- people give up some freedom for justice, equality and welfare
state security
Society Collection of self-interested individuals -Society should embrace a degree of social welfare and social
-fears welfare justice
-fears the state acting in society -individualism should be tempered by social action
-support meritocracy as hard work benefits -society has responsibilities
your outcomes
-Society is bounded together through
foundational equality
The economy Laissez-faire economics-Free market But modern liberalism- mixed approach to prevent market failure
capitalism or injustice
-No role for the state -Wealth should be in the hands on the individuals but support
those who need help
Liberty/freedom Agreement- liberty is a foundation of John Stuart Mill book on Liberty-
liberal ideology foundation of the ideology
BUT- Deviation on maximising liberty
Individualism
Equality
