DIMENSION CONSERVATIVISM LIBERALISM SOCIALISM
HUMAN NATURE BAD: (flawed) unruly, GOOD: Noble Savage GOOD: Noble Savage before
anarchic, greedy, selfish, (Rousseau) corrupted by private property - man
sinful; Trad. Christian institutions: govts., degraded by economic
view of Original Sin - man churches, schools, etc. structures of capitalism:
must be restrained by Man basically decent, class exploitation -
traditions, law, church, well-intentioned. oppression of poor by
etc. Needs firm authority Glorifies the individual. ownership class which
to keep in line. controls the state,
churches, schools. Ban
capitalism and man will
flourish. Suspicion of
Individualism due to tie
to capitalism - prefer
collective solutions.
ROLE OF GOVT. BROAD: paternalistic; LIMITED: laissez faire - BROAD: paternalistic -
maintain law and order, leave man alone & will guided by "progressive"
morals, traditions and flourish. Jefferson: theories, e.g., Marxism &
continuity; regulate "That govt. governs best led by party of
economic relationships to that governs least." Man intellectuals. Govt. run
promote stability. Firm perverted by powerful by socialists must be
govt. a necessary evil. govts., powerful strong to defend against
corporations, powerful class enemies (internal &
labor unions. Liberty & external). A command
self-fulfillment is the economy run by the party.
answer - not controls and
regulations.
VIEWS ON HUMAN ANTI-EGALITARIAN: people EGALITARIAN: applies to EGALITARIAN: applies to
EQULALITY are unequal (physically & opportunity only. Some material conditions -
intellectually) and should individuals will achieve reduce inequalities of
be treated unequally by and acquire more than wealth. Rankled by the
govt. Some better suited others. Price of the unfairness and injustice
to rule than others. freedom to win is the risk of poverty - by the
Claim to be realists. of failure-some win and needlessness of it. Must
some lose. People should destroy the capitalist
be treated as though they class to achieve egal.
are equal to maximize
individual fulfillment.
VIEW ON HUMAN ONLY FOR ARISTOCRATS: LIBERTY FOR ALL: e.g., LIBERTY SUBORDINATE TO
LIBERTY (aristos (Gk.) - "best") Jefferson's yeoman farmer. EQUALITY: without
Not for the masses - Is efficient and rational material equality the
incapable & unequipped to allow each person to "liberal" liberties are a
intellectually & morally - maximize his talents - sham, e.g., freedom of
would only abuse freedom. fulfilled individuals = speech: the poor person
Only the propertied fulfilled and prosperous speaks on a soap box - the
classes have the sense of society. So, 50%+ of rich buy network TV time!!
responsibility needed for Americans go to college; Equal!? Fair?
rational govt. Liberty & 12% in UK; world average
responsibility are less than 1%. Led to
inseparable. expansion of franchise.
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