Final answer:
Conservatism is the political philosophy that seeks to preserve tradition and social stability, emphasizing slow and gradual societal change while maintaining social order and hierarchy. It advocates for obedience to political authority and views the government's role as being in service to society, not controlling it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The political philosophy that is based on tradition and social stability, and favors obedience to political authority, is conservatism. Conservatism as a political ideology prioritizes the value of institutions and practices that have proven their worth over time. It espouses the preservation and promotion of established traditions as it believes that sudden and radical changes to the societal order can be destabilizing. Conservative thinkers, such as Edmund Burke, stress the importance of preserving functioning institutions and advocate for gradual change if necessary.
Modern conservatism, while sharing the fundamental principles of respecting traditions and maintaining a structured society, differs from traditional conservatism. It assumes that an elected government will defend individual rights while also balancing the needs of the community. The role of government in conservative thought is not to control but to serve society, ensuring that liberty does not devolve into license for immoral behavior.
As a contrast to ideologies like liberalism, which underscores the rights of the individual, and socialism, which emphasizes collective ownership and equality, conservatism firmly believes in the importance of hierarchy and social order. It values slow, evolutionary change and appeals to natural law or established customs to justify maintaining existing social norms, potentially including those influenced by religious beliefs. It also views human nature as flawed and supports the role of institutions like the church and school in teaching self-discipline, reinforcing the fundamental values of society.