Thomas Hobbes & Edmund Burke
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 5.3.1
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
Thomas Hobbes was a thinker who wrote about the state of nature. He had some influence on later social contract theories. His most famous work is “Leviathan”.
Order
- Hobbes wrote extensively on the limitations of human nature in his book “Leviathan”, published in 1651.
- In “Leviathan” Hobbes argued that the state of nature made life “nasty, brutish and short” and so, a ‘leviathan’ (dominant state) is needed to keep order in society.
- The Leviathan is imposed on people from above - which follows conservative ideas of hierarchy and authority. -But, Hobbes also agreed with liberal ideas that authority is supported by consent from the people.
- Hobbes argued that sacrificing liberty for social order is desirable.
Human nature
- Hobbes had a pessimistic view of human nature.
- He believed that if humans were left in the state of nature (without structures and institutions of society), they would be violent towards one another and not respect private property.
- Without law and order, there would be “a war of all against all”.
- Instead, Hobbes believed that order must be imposed on a society to stop the dangers of human imperfection.
Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
Edmund Burke is a founder of modern conservatism. Burke wrote 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' (1790) in which he developed conservative arguments of gradual change, tradition and empiricism.
Counter-enlightenment thought
- Burke rejected enlightenment liberalism and disagreed with the view that humans are rational creatures. He believed in human imperfection.
- As a result, he disagreed with building society around human rationality, as enlightenment liberalism believed.
- His rejection of liberal rationality was influenced by witnessing the French Revolution.
- He disagreed with the idea that people could destroy society and create a brand new, fairer system.
- Systems in society should be preserved instead.
Change
- Edmund Burke is associated with the traditional conservative view of ‘change to conserve’.
- Burke urged British Tories to accept change in order to conserve society after seeing the French Revolution.
- He saw threats to conservatism from Enlightenment Liberalism (despite being a Liberal himself originally) and Socialism.
- Burke also believed in gradual change, rather than revolutionary change.
- Changes should consider the impact on the present and future, but also listen to the mistakes and lessons of the past.
Tradition and empiricism
- Burke believed that we should follow traditions and practices that have been passed down for generations.
- His idea of the social contract involves paying attention to “the dead” - learning lessons from history rather than choosing radical untested ideas.
- He believed that people in the present shouldn’t just trust themselves to know what’s best - to do so would be arrogant.
- Instead, we should listen to tradition and history.
- He believed that we should have a social contract between "those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born".
Test yourself on Thomas Hobbes & Edmund Burke
What text is Thomas Hobbes famous for writing?
Which text is Hobbes famous for writing?
Which text is Edmund Burke famous for writing?
Which event influenced Edmund Burke's rejection of liberal rationality and enlightenment liberalism?