Conservatism
Classical Conservatism
Contemporary North America Conservatism
o Traditional Conservatism
o Individualist Conservatism
o Neo-Conservatism
o Social/Religious Conservatism
Key Ideas
Differences between early or classical conservatives and self-proclaimed
conservatives of recent years =they’re getting older?
Opposed to "social engineering" of society by society, social groups, or
government
o Humans are imperfect & no structure can make them perfect
Government has very limited or particular role in society
Cautious approach to change — preferable to keep traditions
Religious/divine aspect
Inequality is a necessary fact of li–people are imperfect, therefore cannot be made
not so
Opposed to social engineering – therefore accept people are imperfect
Classical Conservatism
Sought to preserve some form of aristocratic society that was under attack by
liberalism
Defended traditional social hierarchy
Insisted on the need for strong enough state to restrain people's passions
Skeptical of attempts to promote individual freedom
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Classical Conservatism: Burke
Basis of the political ideas of conservatism
Historical situation
o Developed his views in the heat of the French Revolution
o 1788-89 many observers in England hailed it as great for the cause of
liberty
o Burke saw it as a dangerous, threatening enterprise
Key Books
o 1790: Reflections on the Revolution in France
o Only incidentally about France
1 of 5 o More about the British liberals/radicals who would like to follow in
France's revolutionary footsteps –dedicated it in SARCASTIC way of telling
them they’re all idiots
Ideas:
o Humans are not rational, but rules by passions and desires
o About politics:
Not a science, but an imprecise art ------MACIAVELLI
You can try to rationalize & remake politics and society = terrible
consequences inevitable –reign of terror; Soviet Russia; AM
Reconstruction
Goal: order & stability
1. It is within order: we can get things done and live peacefully
o Concerning society:
Opposed liberal’s "atomistic conception of humans and society"
1. Criticized Locke's liberal view of society
Organic: political society is a living and changing organism, a
whole greater than the sum of its parts.
1. Society is about intergenerational connected-ness, not a
social contract
Society has a "social fabric": woven together, they are strong and
beautiful, and may needs patching & repair, but do NOT rip it ALL
up
1. Canada: what’s our social fabric?
Elitist: believes there are natural aristocrats; inequality among
people is a fact of life
1. Who are our natural leaders and aristocrats?
o Role of state/government:
Government is to provide for human shortcomings: restrain
passions, interests
State must be rooted in customs and traditions of the people to
be stable
1. The people, through time, acquire the habit of obeying it –
rules from your parents? From the class?
2. Cannot change this lightly or easily =CHAOS
No one best form to government: must reflect the particular
history, habits of a particular people, serve their particular needs
o Conception of Freedom:
Good only if controlled and put to good use
People freed from all legal and traditional restraints can wreak
chaos
Negative freedom: individuals should be free to pursue their
goals, but when their goals threaten the social order, freedom
must be restricted
* Society and Order come before individual freedom *
2 of 5 Think about residences? Parties? Teens? Corporations? Polygamy?
o Private property is a necessary, stabilising and conservative force in
society
People who own property, especially land, will have strong
attachments to the society and government that protect their
property
1. Caledonia? Roommates? Your parents?
Does not share Locke's interest in ensuring that everyone can
create their own property
1. Not earned but inherited right of elite
BURKE’S IDEAS: common basis for conservatism
Conservatism: 1800s
Burkean classical conservatives: want to preserve the traditional features of
existing society through cautious reform
Reactionary
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