Origin

Conservatism is a reaction to the rise of liberalism. Conservatism prioritises ‘keeping stuff the way it is’ (tradition - it is in the name, conservatism)

Human Nature

Conservatives rely on the Book of Genesis for their perspective on human nature. They see humans as:

• Imperfect/fallible
• Rebellious/selfish
• Prone to temptation
• Not rational

Additionally - Conservatives highlight humanity ‘as it is’ and not ‘as it should be’ (descriptive, not prescriptive). They aim to make humans better, not perfect.