Edmund Burke Flashcards
What was Edmund Burkes lifespan?
1729 - 1797
As a Whig MP, what liberal causes did he champion?
Supporter of American revolution, defended Irish tennants, demanded impeachment of the Governor of Bengal for mistreating Hundistanis and was an advocate of Adam Smiths free trade views
Which historical event did Burke object to?
The French revolution?
What was Burkes book?
‘Reflections on the revolution in France’ (1790)
What did Burke say about Human Nature?
He said humans had fallibilityand its tendency to fail and denounced the idea of a utopian society
What did Burke say about change?
It was neccissary to conserve but should be based on tradition and experience
He also said it should be organic like a plant
Why did Burke critisise the French revolution?
He said it created a society based on ‘philisophical abstractions’ (wrong ideas)
He also disagreed with its sudden change and emergence and disregard of tradition
What did Burke say about equality?
He said that in an onrganic society a ruling class was inevitable but would need to be paternalistic He said the french aristocracy failed to be paternalistic and so society failed
Give two Burke quotes about society:
“little platoons”
He said that small communities would “acknowledge, nurture and prune the crooked timber of humanity”
