Political Science 1020E Lecture : Conservatism

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 1020E
• Professor: Charles Jones

Document Summary

Clash between liberalism (obama) and conservatism (romney) Emphasis on civil and political rights (freedom of conscious, speech, freedom, opinion) Human security (not to be arrested due to speech/publication) Toleration: initially a separation of church and state. State is neutral between conceptions of the good. State should not take position/favour one over another. Permanent pluralism of modern society (range of views about the conceptions of the good) Liberals care about freedom and the imposition of power on people. State coercion and paternalism are counter-productive (enable people to decide for themselves) Showing respect for autonomy and our capacity to make our own choices. Peaceful co-existence (toleration liberalism) vs. respect for autonomy (autonomy liberalism: a more controversial view) Traditionalism (appeal to tradition, custom, value in tradition, and suspicious in radical change) Organic conception of society and the state ( we are part of something larger , an argument against radical liberalism) Classical conservatives: flawed human beings, hierarchy, tradition, anti-revolution.