Edmund Burke

Question 1

when was he born?

Answer 1

1729

Question 2

who does he tie himself to?

Answer 2

Marquis de Rockingham

Question 3

when does he become MP

Answer 3

1765-1794

Question 4

what was he noted for as an MP

Answer 4

speechmaking and pamphlets he published

Question 5

what group is he leader of?

Answer 5

Rockingham whigs

Question 6

what did his opposition to French Revolution help?

Answer 6

turn Europe against revolution

Question 7

what is he often cited as?

Answer 7

most influential conservative ever

Question 8

shared features of conservatism

Answer 8

1. religious
2. attachment to traditional life
3. society cannot be leveled
4. close relationship between freedom and private property
5. faith in prescription not reason
6. distrust of substantial change

Question 9

what does he acknowledge a push and pull between?

Answer 9

complexity of society and human ability to understand it

Question 10

what do conservatives not agree with?

Answer 10

enlightenment thought mandated that specific aspects of society need overt justification

Question 11

simplistic view of conservatism

Answer 11

it isn’t really a political theory

Question 12

Burkes conservatism

Answer 12

came about as a defense of a philosophy of life rather than an attempt at systematic political theory

Question 13

Burkes single great work to point to

Answer 13

Reflections on the Revolution of France

Question 14

what do his works provide?

Answer 14

a reasoned defense of existing society against an overly aggressive usage of reason

Question 15

what is his writings in reflections a response to

Answer 15

a sermon given by Richard Price, who supported the revolution

Question 16

Fundamental principles from Price about the French revolution

Answer 16

1. religious liberty
2. right to resist
3. authority is derived from the people

Question 17

what did burke think the revolution represented?

Answer 17

the triumph of extremism

Question 18

what does burke advocate for?

Answer 18

virtual representation

Question 19

what is your mp a representative of?

Answer 19

your interests

Question 20

what does the mp representing your interests fall in line with?

Answer 20

delegates v. trustees

Question 21

how does he view the role of gov?

Answer 21

pursuing the collective good

Question 22

if the revolution is not desirable is it ever ok to change?

Answer 22

yes but its complicated
radical change is rarely desirable

Question 23

how does he advocate for reform?

Answer 23

using existing materials
you want to reform from within rather from the outside

Question 24

what is his goal w/ reform?

Answer 24

accomplish a “better state of affairs”

Question 25

Why is razing a gov and replacing it w/ something better much easier said than done?

Answer 25

you need to be as certain as possible that what’s replacing is better
can’t change everything all at once
make sure benefits outweigh the cost