I heard this in the car. A good introduction to Edmund Burke and the  real meaning of conservatism.


https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/edmund-burke,-rev...


Another intro:
For Burke, the best life begins in the “little platoons”—family, church, and local community—that orient men toward virtues such as temperance and fortitude. It is in the local and particular that we are able to live justly. In seeing political life as best conducted within an order of particular habits and presumptions—specifically, the order of the British Constitution—Burke resisted the attempts of some of his contemporaries to study man as if he could be viewed in isolation, apart from all the trappings of society. This type of political speculation, which for Burke is most dubiously practiced by Rousseau, postulates an original “state of nature,” in which “man is born free,” but is everywhere in chains.

Burke thought on the contrary that men are born constrained by the traditions of their forbears; ill-considered reforms that stem from abstract theoretical designs are therefore dangerous. The proponents of a new age of “light and reason” who fomented the French Revolution are likely to harm us by tearing away “the decent drapery of life.” In doing so they deny the presumptive excellence of ruling gentlemen, the implicit contract among the present, past, and future, a proper place for the exceptional prudence of men such as Burke himself, and a decent appreciation of religion. The speculative and theoretical proponents of political revolution fail to see themselves and us as indebted to a larger tradition that includes the art, literature, ritual, and customs established over the course of millennia. Without these way stations, which are “necessary to cover the defects of our naked, shivering nature,” it is difficult to endow men with greater dignity—itself a central aim of the Enlightenment. Burke’s often highly rhetorical attacks on the French Revolution and other harmful political projects were in the service of these basic structures of excellence and stability.
https://thegreatthinkers.org/burke/introduction/

Roger Scruton is a modern voice for noble conservatism.



The conservative outlook, says Scruton, is neither outmoded nor irrational. On the contrary, it is the most reasonable of political alternatives. The evils of socialism, he maintains, lie precisely where its supporters find its strengths, and the conditions for the credibility of socialism have long since disappeared. Neither socialism nor liberalism can come to terms with the real complexity of human society, and both appear plausible only because they direct attention away from what is actual, toward what is merely ideal.

From earlier editions of The Meaning of Conservatism:

"The book provides exactly that swift kick on the intellectual bottom which every undergraduate student of political science needs, most of them more urgently than ever before." – T. E. Utley, (London) Daily Telegraph

John Smith wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2022 at 4:05pm:



Only because you do not understand either noble or conservatism.  If you bothered to listen you'd probably discover that you are more sympathetic to noble conservatism than you realise. You are hostile to something that is not conservative at all, something like robber capitalism or oligarchy or something along those lines.

Burke and Scruton are intelligent, articulate and learned. They are worth hearing, you will be enriched even if you disagree. You will certainly learn a lot and at the very least you will have the opportunity to critically look at your own views and either revise them or be confirmed in them. But in either case you will have, at least,  thought - a good thing.  We call all do with a bit more thinking and critical reflection.

Frank wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2022 at 4:17pm:


Conservatism is never noble.  It's self interested, myopic and harmful

John Smith wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2022 at 5:26pm:


Very well, what do you understand by conservatism?  What do you understand by noble?

In your own words or a source you like and respect, I don't mind. I posted a couple of pointers as to what I understand by these terms, why don't you do the same if you have a better definition or understanding?

Frank wrote on Jun 23^rd, 2022 at 5:57pm:


It's what you said.  Conservatives want to conserve the past, avoid change and particularly harm minorities

This is not noble.  It's fearful

Frank wrote on Jun 24^th, 2022 at 11:00am:


Bullshit.  Conservatives try to conserve the past by hating the future

Burke was anti-Enlightenment. In his time there existed a very large proportion of illiterate and unenlightened people.

He wanted to keep it that way.