conservatives on human nature

humans are morally, intellectually and psychologically imperfect

Hobbes, Burke, and Oakeshott

-humans are imperfect and selfish
-rational enough to seek order which can only be achieved via social contract
-humans desire power and are distrustful of others
-the 'state of nature' is a violent, fearful place

-humans are naturally communal as their impefection bands them together
-people are more likely to fail than succeed because their scope of understanding is so poor
-agreed with hobbes but not to the same destructive levels

-humans are fragile and fallible
-rationalism is beyond the ability of human beings because they are intellectually imperfect

negative, Human imperfection

-similar to traditonal conservatives with a preference for pragmatism and organic society

rationalistic ideas

-macmillan
-johnson

rationalistic inspired policies like keynesian economics

-beleive in moral imperfection
-the state is required to ensure an organic society
-open to rationalism and state management

-optimistic view
-agree with hobbes view that people are autonomous individuals
-humans are rational and motivated to pursue their own self interests

-individuals are rational and their moral purpose is the achievement of happiness
-there is a logic and virtue in selfishness
-individuals who experience negative freedom can best comprehend reality