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Conservatism 1 Conservatism is widely believed to have been founded by Edmund Burke, who argued for what became many of its core concepts in his 1790 book, Reflections on the French Revolution. Since then, this ideology has disseminated across the world and integrated with local culture and customs to evolve into many variations. Although conservative politics across the world do not always agree on policies and legislation, some core principles of traditional conservatism like those proposed by Edmund Burke remain definitive. This essay will examine the arguments for and against traditional conservatism. The overarching themes in traditional conservatism include preserving social order and stability, preventing government tyranny, and promoting individual accumulation of wealth. 1 Conservatives believe that these are the necessary foundations for a just society. 2 While this ideology claims noble intentions and espouses some truths, its hallmark methods to achieve a better society are often controversial. After first understanding the arguments for conservatism, we will then question its place in the modern world. 1 Sargent, Lyman Tower, Contemporary Political Ideologies; a Comparative Analysis. ( Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2009), 137-139 2 Denes, Ivan Zoltan. Conservative Ideology in the Making. (Budapest, Hungary: Central European University Press, 2009), 11.

Conservatism: Pros & Cons

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This is a term paper I wrote for my 1st year political science class on "contemporary ideologies". I was educated on the West Coast of N. America. I got a solid A on it, it may help other students out there.

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Page 1: Conservatism: Pros & Cons

Conservatism 1

Conservatism is widely believed to have been founded by Edmund Burke, who argued

for what became many of its core concepts in his 1790 book, Reflections on the French

Revolution. Since then, this ideology has disseminated across the world and integrated with

local culture and customs to evolve into many variations. Although conservative politics across

the world do not always agree on policies and legislation, some core principles of traditional

conservatism like those proposed by Edmund Burke remain definitive. This essay will examine

the arguments for and against traditional conservatism. The overarching themes in traditional

conservatism include preserving social order and stability, preventing government tyranny, and

promoting individual accumulation of wealth.1 Conservatives believe that these are the

necessary foundations for a just society.2 While this ideology claims noble intentions and

espouses some truths, its hallmark methods to achieve a better society are often controversial.

After first understanding the arguments for conservatism, we will then question its place in the

modern world.

Tradition is regarded by conservatives as the collective wisdom accumulated throughout

history. The survival of ancient traditions is a testament to their value.1 Any changes to the

status quo are treated with extreme caution and suspicion. Even when traditional policies are

imperfect, the people at least know what to expect, so it is argued that society is better off

dealing with the proverbial “devil we know.” Since social experimentation sometimes results in

choas that may affect all members of society, like the French Revolution commented on by

Edmund Burke1, it should be resisted. Unity within the collective is valued over dissent and

exchange of radical ideas. If changes should happen, conservatives argue for them to happen

1 Sargent, Lyman Tower, Contemporary Political Ideologies; a Comparative Analysis. (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2009), 137-139

2 Denes, Ivan Zoltan. Conservative Ideology in the Making. (Budapest, Hungary: Central European University Press, 2009), 11.

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Conservatism 2

slowly and only after due resistance, so as to make sure that it truly is an improvement upon the

present condition.

Regarding the role of government, conservatives seek to limit its influence especially in

areas of economics and social services.1 A core principle of conservatism is anti-egalitarianism,

which is to say that everyone in society has their place within a hierarchy and will do well to stay

there to preserve the integrity of the whole. Conservatism highlights the natural inequality of

ability in different people to justify the inevitable differences in wealth and power. Related to the

idea of anti-egalitarianism is the concept of self-reliance. Conservatives argue that since the

more able individuals naturally deserve more rewards for their superior work, it is unethical to try

to eliminate these differences through rising tax brackets, industrial regulation, social benefits,

and other avenues of wealth redistribution.3 Such policies are regarded as aimed at

handicapping the wealthy and industrious, while giving the poor and lazy an incentive to not

work hard and rely on government assistance. Conservatives hold dear their autonomy and

liberties especially in the process of accumulating property and material wealth, but here is

usually one exception when it comes to government interventions, which is moral issues. Social

norms and traditional definitions of morality are held as important yet delicate foundations of the

fabric of society. The idea of moral relativism is abhorrent to most conservatives. It is argued

that if there is no fundamental standard for morality, then potentially any activity may be

justified. In the absence of a strictly enforced common code of ethics, conservatives fear that

the possible domino effects upon society may be unfathomable. For the good of social stability,

some urges must be restrained so that society preserves a certain degree of decency, and thus

government intervention is an acceptable trade-off.3

The conservative point of view suggests a dismal view on human nature. People are

held to be irrational: stirring up turmoil when tradition offers stability; expecting rewards without

3 Russell Kirk. “Prescription, Authority, and Ordered Freedom.” In What is Conservatism? Frank S. Meyer ed. (New York, Rinehart & Winston, 1964) 24.

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producing; making overly generalized national policies without consideration for local customs;

and giving in to immoral urges instead of maintaining common decency. Daniel Kahneman

indeed gave empirical evidence for the fallibility of human reasoning. We assume people are

rational actors in decision making, Kahneman showed that people are in fact inexplicable

irrationality, sometimes resulting in the vicious cycle that conservatives warn about.4

While conservative theory is not without its merits, many cases demonstrate that it is

detrimental to society when put into practice. In centuries past, when change and information

was less forthcoming, traditional practices had greater longevity. Nowadays many traditional

laws are being rendered obsolete by rapid changes in technologies and culture. One familiar

example is the United States’ 2nd Constitutional Amendment, which supposedly guarantees

citizens’ ability to own and carry firearms. The original intent was to prevent the federal

government from intimidating individual states through force, and the law was passed at a time

when firearms were relatively inefficient, more expensive, and less readily available. Today at

least two problems undermine the original aim. The first is that modern firearms are cheap,

common, and fire rapidly with deadly accuracy even in the hands of untrained criminals. What

was meant to protect the people from government tyranny now subject them to the oppression

of random acts of violence. The second is that while militia centuries ago may defend their

home from federal troops who used similar weapons, there is simply no way that a group of

civilians wielding small arms can fight off tyrannical armies who can deploy tanks and

helicopters. Thus new problems have emerged out of tradition even as benefits have waned. A

newer example is the advent of drone warfare. The United States Constitution stipulates that

although the President is a Commander-in-Chief during wartime, he must obtain Congressional

approval to declare war, thus creating a check and balance of power between the legislative

4 Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, "Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk." (Econometrica, 1979) 263-92.

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Conservatism 4

and executive branches. The makers of that law could not have foreseen robotic fighters, and

thus the President is able to order the bombing of foreign countries by drones without

congressional consent, since it does not legally constitute an act of war by traditional

definitions.5 The aim to preserve traditional values is not inherently wrong, but it is easy to

confuse the aim with the means. Laws and customs are means to ensure certain values, but

when circumstances make these means untenable, society must examine the discrepancy and

update the means to realign with the aim. Conservatism’s steadfast grip on tradition simply for

tradition’s sake is increasingly yielding disastrous consequences.

In regards to anti-egalitarianism, conservative policies often miss the mark. Even though

some people are smarter or more able than others, there is no evidence that factors such as

race, bloodline, and gender can predict such outcomes. The most prominent example which

illustrates the reprehensible nature of anti-egalitarianism is the institution of slavery and the

vehement effort made by conservatives of the time to preserve it. Though practiced and

encouraged by many cultures in the past, it is now rightly condemned as an affront to the

humanity of all. Conservatives following anti-egalitarian ideals first sought to benefit from the

bondage and exploitation of other human beings, then disenfranchised former slaves under

policies such as Jim Crow Laws in the USA. The idea that more able and productive individuals

naturally deserve makes sense in theory, but in practice we see that it is often the lower classes

that produce, while the oppressors contribute little and diverting much of their wealth towards

the continued domination of the oppressed. Personal beliefs in the superiority of a certain race

or family stem from a profound lack of empathy for fellow human beings. Self-reliance is a fine

principle to live by, but it must not be used to scorn the destitute and the disenfranchised.

In their mad scramble to stem the tide of change, many conservatives escalate their

distrust of human reasoning to a more general distrust of facts. A curious phenomenon of

5 Peter W. Singer, "Battlefields of the Future." (The New York Times, January 21, 2012).

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collective intellectual regression occurs even as individual conservatives enjoy the fruits of

improved technology and reasoning. Government programs which seek to protect all, like

regulations in foods and drugs, and controlling climate-harming heavy industries are ironically

denied in the name of liberty—the liberty to resign to intellectual stagnation. The occasional

fallibility of human reasoning is no reason for its complete abandonment. For many

conservatives, the ideology’s claim of human fallibility is not see a warning but embraced in a

perverse celebration. This ideology evokes the worst in mankind’s character and can justify

ancient prejudices and mistakes, constantly threatening to subvert all progress that humanity

has achieved. Therefore, its detriments far outweigh its benefits.

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Reference

Denes, Ivan Zoltan. “Conservatism.” In Conservative Ideology in the Making. 1st ed. Budapest, Hungary: Central European University Press, 2009

Fishman, Ethan. "American Conservatism 2012: A Historical Perspective." Perspectives on Political Science, no. 41 (2012): 38-40.

Kahneman, Daniel, and Tversky, Amos. "Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk." Econometrica47, no. 2 (1979): 263-92.

Kirk, Russell. “Prescription, Authority, and Ordered Freedom.” In What is Conservatism? Frank S. Meyer ed. New York, Rinehart & Winston, 1964

Sargent, Lyman Tower. "Conservatism, Liberalism, and Democracy." In Contemporary Political Ideologies; a Comparative Analysis. 14th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2009.

Singer, Peter W. "Battlefields of the Future." The New York Times, January 21, 2012.

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