To what extent do conservatives agree about human nature?
Introduction:
Conservatives are mostly coherent in their view of human nature as they generally
have the view that humans are naturally flawed, imperfect and selfish. Whilst the
new right has a differing view on society with human nature, they are mostly agree
with imperfection and tradition. Therefore it can be argued that conservatives are
largely in agreement about their understanding of human nature.
Point 1
Most conservatives have a pessimistic view of human nature
Evidence/examples Evaluation
- Trad conservatives like Hobbes Whilst all conservatives believe humans
believe humans are imperfect ‘life are ultimately flawed, there are opposing
was brutish and short’ before the views on whether these things are
state was established. He believed pessimistic or not. One nation and trsd
that humans had psychological, conservatives carry a pessimistic view
moral and intellectual flaws whilst …
- Oakeshott and Burke too had a
sceptical view of human nature
drawing attention to the events of
the french revolution that were an
overestimation of human
potential.because of this, they were
opposed to rationalists as humans
weren’t capable of identifying and
processing such difficult principles.
- Oakeshott had slightly less
pessimistic view of human nature
stating that humanity was capable
of being ‘benign and benevolent’
- The new right also believed
humans were flawed because they
were selfish but thinkers like Ayn
Rand view this as a good thing.
They believe that self interest and
self fulfilment drive human
behaviour.
Introduction:
Conservatives are mostly coherent in their view of human nature as they generally
have the view that humans are naturally flawed, imperfect and selfish. Whilst the
new right has a differing view on society with human nature, they are mostly agree
with imperfection and tradition. Therefore it can be argued that conservatives are
largely in agreement about their understanding of human nature.
Point 1
Most conservatives have a pessimistic view of human nature
Evidence/examples Evaluation
- Trad conservatives like Hobbes Whilst all conservatives believe humans
believe humans are imperfect ‘life are ultimately flawed, there are opposing
was brutish and short’ before the views on whether these things are
state was established. He believed pessimistic or not. One nation and trsd
that humans had psychological, conservatives carry a pessimistic view
moral and intellectual flaws whilst …
- Oakeshott and Burke too had a
sceptical view of human nature
drawing attention to the events of
the french revolution that were an
overestimation of human
potential.because of this, they were
opposed to rationalists as humans
weren’t capable of identifying and
processing such difficult principles.
- Oakeshott had slightly less
pessimistic view of human nature
stating that humanity was capable
of being ‘benign and benevolent’
- The new right also believed
humans were flawed because they
were selfish but thinkers like Ayn
Rand view this as a good thing.
They believe that self interest and
self fulfilment drive human
behaviour.
