Conservatism

Origins of conservatism

• Conservatism originally emerged as a reaction to the enlightenment era
• Edmund Burke was the father of modern conservatism
• Burke on the French Revolution - ' change in order to conserve'

Conservatism

• Conservatives favour traditional values, practices and institutions and say that they should be conserved because they have survived the test of time so far
• Tradition refers to conserving values for 'those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born'
• Tradition refers to security, belonging and a distinct, traditional way of life

Human nature

• Conservatives are pessimistic in general about human nature
• Belief in the ability of humans to be perfect is one of the sources of misery
• The government alone cant bring about change, there must be a change in moral attitudes
• Immoral behaviour is deeply rooted in the individual
• Humans are psychologically limited as we fear isolation and instability

Social Order

• Traditional conservatives believe that…