Conservatism - The origins of conservatism Flashcards
What is the fundamental principle of conservatism?
Changing to conserve.
What is meant by changing to conserve?
In order for something to be preserved, it has to be continuously updated and maintained.
What did Edmund Burke say about changing to conserve?
“A state without the means of change…is without the means of its conservation”
What doctrine could you see conservatism as?
A ‘doctrine of maintenance’ - one that advocates change but in the form of ongoing repair and development rather than outright demolition and the construction of something new.
What was conservatism a reaction to?
The politics of the Enlightenment.
What was at the heart of the Enlightenment?
A belief in reason and remorseless progress; the idea that there was an ideal society which we should strive for.
What was the slogan of the new French Republic?
‘Liberte, egalite, fraternite’
What made it possible for Enlightenment ideal to be criticised without seeming reactionary?
The ruthless imposition of ‘reason’ through the genocidal violence of the French Revolution.
Who is the father of conservatism?
Edmund Burke
