Philosophy of the social policy in German conservatism of the XIX century

Abstract

The article describes the attitude of the German conservative thinkers of the XIX century towards social policy. Works by Carl von Haller, Adam Muller, Wilhelm von Ketteler and Carl von Vogelsang are studied, the philosophic background of their views, and the im­pact of their arguments for the intellectual history of Germany. Their conservative cri­tique of capitalism and socialism is studied. The paper also analyzes the conception of “sustainable development” understood as an approach towards economy that is focused not on the increase of production, but on maintenance of acceptable level of welfare. The article presents ideas of corporate organization of society that can restore the har­mony of medieval social, political and economical relations. The ideology of aristocratic paternalism is explored together with its philosophical and religious foundations as well as its focus on the preservation of social peace and its concern about the needs of the pop­ulation. The article presents the claims of the conservative thinkers on the value of the nonmaterial components of the social life, which serve as the foundation for social policy, namely respect towards tradition, responsibility, service, trust, justice, frugality, religios­ity. The emergence of the German conservatism is explored in relation to Russian politi­cal philosophy. The article shows that the scientific and public activity of the German conservatives led to the introduction of social laws in Germany and Austria.