Intellectual and Historical Context of Burke’s Political Thought

Question 1

What event does Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France respond to?

Answer 1

The French Revolution (1789 onwards)

Burke’s work is a reaction to the perceived severing of historical continuity caused by the Revolution.

Question 2

How did Burke perceive the French Revolution?

Answer 2

As a catastrophic severing of historical continuity

He believed that it attacked the moral underpinnings of civil society.

Question 3

What symbols did Burke associate with the moral order in society?

Answer 3

The throne and altar

These symbols represented a deeper normative order in Burke’s view.

Question 4

How did Burke’s view of the American Revolution differ from his view of the French Revolution?

Answer 4

He supported the American Revolution as a defence of inherited English liberties

Unlike the French Revolution, which he viewed as a radical break from tradition.

Question 5

What core belief did Burke express through his support for the American Revolution?

Answer 5

Gradualism and historical embeddedness

He favored evolution over revolutionary abstraction in political change.

Question 6

Fill in the blank: Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France was published in _______.

Answer 6

1790

Question 7

True or False: Burke viewed the French Revolution as a positive change for civil society.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

What does Burke’s perspective reveal about his political philosophy?

Answer 8

A preference for gradual reform over radical change

This is evident in his support for the American colonists’ grievances.