Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Small Government, Invisible Hand, Social Order
1 Jan 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
According to jones lecture, smith argues capitalism: will lead to disappearance of states, benefits worst of, promotes disorder, fosters dependency, will wither away in the future. Why: improving distribution through mechanism of invisible hand- prices will come down including food, allowing poorer people to satisfy needs. Traditionalism: social and political continuity of traditions (order as its received over progress- gradual change) Skepticism about political knowledge (respect inherited laws and institutions- wisdom as they stood test of time- many small changes over centuries) Organic conception of society and the state: internal relation of institutions- health of community as a whole, not individual. Conservatives- suspicious of reason, favor sentiment over scrutiny (recognize we are creatures guided by our emotions, show loyalty) Classical conservatives: flawed human beings, hierarchy, tradition, anti-revolution. Contemporary conservatives: small government, free markets, strong military. Critic of french revolution of 1789 (concerned preventing english following example of french) Against the revolutionaries" views of human nature, society, freedom, and government.
