What does conservatism mean?

Answer 1

in the dictionary it defines conservatism as reluctant to accept change: right-wing political viewpoint: desire to preserve currant societal structure. i hope that was helpful for you.

Answer 2

Conservatism in the United States is a constellation of political ideologies within the United States under the blanket heading of conservative. Included are fiscal conservatives, free market or economic liberals, social conservatives,[1] and religious conservatives,[2][3] as well as supporters of a strong American military, opponents of internationalism,[4] and proponents of states' rights.[5]

Modern American conservatism coalesced in the latter half of the 20th century, responding over time to the political and social change associated with events such as the Great Depression, tension with the Soviet Union in the Cold War, the American Civil Rights Movement, the counterculture of the 1960s, the deregulation of the economy in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the overthrow of the New Deal Coalition in the 1980s, and the terrorist threat of the 21st century. Its prominence has been aided, in part, by the emergence of vocal and influential economists, politicians, writers, and media personalities. While conservatives were once significant minorities in both major parties, the conservative wing of the Democratic party has all but died out and most conservatives today identify themselves as Republicans. In 2000 and 2004, about 80% of self-described conservatives voted Republican.

Answer 3

This is a term that is almost impossible to define. Classical conservatism as set forth by Burke stresses continuity and a preservation of our present institutions for fear that change could awaken the tempests and undermine the fragile social order. Contemporay conservatism, in the U.S., is often distinguished by talk of radical change if not revolution. While much of the language here is rhetorical there is clearly a deep and abiding critique of our present institutions variously described as welfare state liberalism, saecular humanism elitist social engineering. European conservatism tends to frequently have a class and elitist underpinning that is frequently comfortable with genetic and racial aguments a la The Bell Curve. Figures like Rush Limbaugh, William Buckley and most conservative legislators have kept this work of Herrnstein and Murray at arms length.

Answer 4

Here are two of my favorite quotes on the subject.

In "The Federal Courts, Politics, and the Rule of Law," by John C. Hughes (published 1995), it says:

"In the contemporary political context, those who fear conformity have tended to describe themselves as liberal and have tended to applaud judicial 'protection' of human rights. Those who fear diversity have tended to call themselves conservatives and have been appalled by judicial 'usurpation' of the majority's discretion to form the kind of community it finds most conducive to its own happiness. The former tends to approve of the expansive theories of constitutional interpretation, while the latter tends to prefer the restrained theories of judicial review. These alignments are neither perfect nor inevitable, but the debate has surely been shrill."

And George F. Will said, "Conservatism is the politics of prudence, which begins with acceptance of the fact that, more often than not, and to a degree that is humbling to mere human beings, the inertia of history and society severely limit both the pace and degree of change that human willfulness can bring about. Or, as a wise man once said, in a battle between you and the world, bet on the world." (From "The New Season," published in 1987.)

Answer 5

Main Entry: con·ser·va·tism
Pronunciation: k&n-'s&r-v&-"ti-z&m
Function: noun
1 capitalized a : the principles and policies of a Conservative party b : the Conservative party
2 a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change
3 : the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change

Answer 6

Conservatism is adherence to the occurrence of normal things in life according to nature. There is no deviation as to the flow of life is in this world.

Answer 7

Conservatives especially want to defend particular forms of human identity and connectedness. For conservatives, the need for these forms of identity and “relatedness” is an unchanging part of their human nature.

Conservatives believe that there exists an essential human nature. They believe human nature is flawed, having both higher and lower qualities. They believe human nature gives a definite direction to their lives. They ascribe to the belief that is a part of the aim of any society, and of every individual, to draw out what is best in our nature, and to repress the worst.

Conservatives tend to view societies as rising and falling according to their inner strengths and weaknesses rather than inevitably advancing. Furthermore, conservatives have a more protective attitude to their own tradition, and want to keep it alive for future generations. Therefore, conservatives tend to be more cautious about social change, as they want to know the long term effects that such changes will have on the social fabric.

Conservatives don’t believe in treating people the same for the simple reason that people are different, in their inner natures, in the quality of their beliefs and actions, in their capacities and in the relation in which they stand to each other (for instance, we will usually discriminate in favour of people to whom we are closely related, such as family members).

Conservatism, like liberalism and socialism, has different versions, partly because conservatives often disagree with each other about the particular political arrangements that ought to be conserved,

"Conservatism, rightly understood, is a political philosophy characterized by the writings of, e.g., Russell Kirk, Robert Nisbet, Richard Weaver, and Robert Bork. It holds that the individual is essentially a communal being—a part of an organic social whole, whose personality is molded by the society in which he is born. He does not belong to himself, but rather belongs to society. His proper role is as an unselfish partner with his neighbors, and his family, and in service to his God and his society. Individualism, capitalism, atheism, science, are all disruptive tendencies, because they break the historical, traditional, predictable bonds that connect people to one another. The free market entices a woman to leave her family role, for instance, and go into the workplace. Individualism leads people to challenge the authority of the church or other social figures." (http://atheism.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://sandefur.typepad.com/freespace/2005/01/what%5Fconservati.html)

Answer 8

Conservatism means that greed is good, independant thought is bad and white is right.

Conservatism....bad!!!

Answer 9

Less government
lower taxes
fight our enemy, not negotiate with them
limited or no use of abortion
close the borders from illegals
allow people to keep their money and not have the government tell them how to spend it.
lower taxes = more economic growth

Read the Contract with America from 1994

Answer 10

It means tax the middle class not the rich or corporations. It means treat the common folk as ignorant serfs and the rich as royalty. It means hate homosexuality, ignore science and favor subjective Bible teachings.