To what extent do conservatives agree about human nature PDF

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essay in regards to the human nature of the conservative ideology and a comparison of key thinkers fairly short could be extended but if you include a few more quotes could be excellent essay...

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To what extent do conservatives agree about human nature?

The three different types of conservatism have very different views when it comes to human nature for example traditional conservatism believes in a very pessimistic view of human nature where it is flawed, selfish and psychologically imperfect giving way to a very pragmatic view of the world which is routed in tradition. Whilst one nation conservatism believes that human nature makes people have a responsibility to the lower classes to pull them up for the betterment for the nation. Whereas the new right believes human nature is more optimistic because they believe that human nature can have the ability to be rational and show initiative so they can strive for a free capitalist society. They clearly have many disagreements on the for example the psychologically and morally imperfect of human nature Traditional conservatism believes that humans are dependent, and they crave safety and order. This leads to humans desiring a hierarchy to know where they situate in society. Furthermore, this demonstrates the need for a strong society that is based on tradition, hierarchy and property (inheritance) which traditional conservatives believe brings stability to society because it tempers the erratic and flawed nature of man. This can be seen with Thomas Hobbes who was a traditional conservative thinker he saw humans as needy and vulnerable. All these flaws in human nature leads to a society with a ruling class as Edmund burke said a ruling class is inevitable and desirable One nation conservatism view on human nature is similar to traditional conservatism but some one nation conservative thinkers have a more optimistic view of human nature routed in moving society forward as one because with traditional conservative view the weakest or poorest in society can be left behind. Michael Oakeshott described human nature as ‘fallible not terrible’ which shows slightly more optimistic view of human nature. This slightly more optimistic view of human nature leads to a society that is routed in paternalism as Edmund burke said the ruling class needs to govern in the interests of the entire society this creates a welfare state that is at the center of one nation conservatism. The new right has significantly different views to the other two conservative viewpoints it believes that humans function best in an atomistic society Ayn rand a new right conservative thinker said that individuals seek autonomy and space. This view of human nature functions best in a meritocracy with autonomism because of the new right belief in a natural hierarchy. Traditional conservatives' belief that human nature is morally imperfect is largely based on the catholic idea of original sin so people are therefore selfish and greedy meaning society will become anarchy left unchecked. This is clearly shown by Thomas Hobbes when he said that humans are likely to commit destructive acts, humans are governed by ruthless self-interest. This view that human nature is morally imperfect creates a society based around strong law and order One nation conservatism again largely agrees with traditional conservatism that humans are morally imperfect this can be seen from Michael Oakeshott stating his belief that he accepts human imperfection and believes that humans are incapable of creating a utopian society. This view that humans are morally imperfect whilst being pessimistic may give a fairer view because it leads to a society that values state intervention into both economic and social matters to temper capitalisms pitfalls. The new right also has a similar view of human nature as traditional conservatism and one nation conservatism in that humans are morally imperfect. They believe that humans have a choice and

sometimes the un-rational choice of a life that does not promote social cohesion and is morally wrong. This can be seen from new right viewpoint of neo-conservatism where humans have free will but do not always exercise their free will correctly this is similar to the other two viewpoints because it allows for humans to be flawed even though it is more optimistic than traditional conservatism of always morally imperfect beings. This could lead to a society that is centered around protecting public morality. To conclude the three different types of conservatism, have both similar and contrasting views when it comes to human nature. There difference in views can be most clearly seen from the differences in society's they create because by the amount of freedom the people have in the society shows how optimistic/pessimistic the viewpoint is about human nature. To summarise one nation conservatism and traditional conservatism have similar viewpoints with one nation being slightly more optimistic. Whilst the new right has fairly different views with new right having a view of human nature having the capacity to rational whereas traditional conservatism and one nation believes human nature to be psychologically imperfect....