Conservatism: TRADITION
- TENET
Tradition – unaccumulated wisdom of the past which underpins society. Most important tradition is religion as burke
said it was ‘our comfort and one great source of civilisation’ and it binds society together therefore atheism should be
suppressed as its destabilising.
- Rationalistic idea of enlightenment was rise of secular state have weakened Judaeo-Christian religion. Oakeshott said
the decline of religion would cause those who embraced its values to be inclined to follow abstract ideas and be harmful
rationalist thinkers as a replacement of religion
- Humans are too dim to come up with new ideas therefore they stick with tradition
- Religion is key and binds society together
- Fear of revolution due to new ideas and overthrow – they like social order & worry that people need to have faith in
What key thinkers What are the key What are the key terms within
- Burke thought traditions embodied
continuity which advanced
dichotomies within this this tenet? Give definitions in
peacefulness (the ultimate political tenet? your own words.
goal). New right – strong belief of
- Argued society should be governed. By traditional ideas and attitudes –
tradition, custom and habit, not abstract against homosexuality. Secure
thought. Society was partnership constant
between living, dead and born Most forms support tradition – unify
people together and gives society
- Accumulated wisdom is found in long
collective identity e.g. royal
standing institutions like monarchy, unis wedding
and communities and religion and
traditions should guide humans. ‘wisdom
without reflection’. Traditions make ppl
feel belonging, identify, reinforce social
cohesion of society
- Abandoning traditions is dangerous as it
stood test of time. Neo-conservatives are
pro-religion even though they’re
unbelievers due to the social functions it
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller oliviawoolley10. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $3.90. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.