IIRC, that's classical liberalism which is similar to conservatism today. I think it's more the liberal view that man can't be trusted individually and therefore government, or the collective, must rein him in.
achieve utopia through social evolution
Yep, utopianism is a leftist trap, dunno where that fits in.
Conservative or liberal - call it what you will. I trust my sarcasm comes through. Man is not basically good, he is soulfully needy of regeneration. "There is none righteous, no not one...."