The Values of Modern Conservatism

When we look at classical conservatism, it is not too far off from its core conservative values; often originating from the late-eighteenth century with Edmund Burke and mid-twentieth century with Michael Oakeshott. Traditionally, conservatism follows a different trajectory than liberalism, insofar as many of its tenets do not stem from a state of nature model for social contract theory. However, it does place a heavy emphasis on human nature, and how it informs a realistic approach, not only to governing, but to a socio-cultural attitude specifically.

We can look first at Burke, whose main critiques of society can be contextualized by the French Revolution from 1789–1799. What Burke commented on, was the complete and utter distraught laid at the foot of the French people by revolutionaries. This isn’t to say that Burke was not sympathetic to them, however, because under the French monarchy, many people suffered what Burke might call injustices. He went as far to say that:

“I certainly have the honor to belong to more clubs than one, in which the constitution of this kingdom and the principles of the glorious Revolution, are held in high reverence: and I reckon myself among the most forward in my zeal for maintaining that constitution and those principles in their utmost purity and vigor” (Burke 1791, 89).

Here, we can clearly see that Burke recognizes his nation’s own benefit from undergoing revolutionary means to change the way in which they could proceed to have proper discourse in their life. More importantly, however, is that Burke views French revolutionaries as inherently unsophisticated on the matter. In fact he speaks very negatively, by saying in his letter that he “never liked this continual talk of resistance and revolution, … [i]t renders the habit of society dangerously valetudinary…” (Burke 1791, 155)

Burke sees revolution is not only a move away from tradition, but the fact that in the aftermath, reformation depends on defining abstract rights, with often little-to-no basis in human nature or custom. Civil society is the product of convention, and Burke wishes it to stay that way. This is why conservative thinkers, similar to Burke deeply value familial inheritance. On page 122 of the same aforementioned letter, he says that “by preserving the method of nature in the conduct of the state, in what we improve, we are never wholly new; in what we retain we are never wholly obsolete.” Inheritance is important, not only as a remnant from royalist tradition, but because it forces us to confront another core value of conservatism, and that is of improvement.

Inheritance implies that, over time, the person or family most familiar with a project for improvement, can continue to improve that system much better than anyone else could justify. They could also necessarily know whether or not to continue to improve upon it or cease improvement of said system altogether. Another core value, then, appears in what one could simply put as “no innovation without improvement”. This is spoken about explicitly in the works of Oakeshott, in his essay, On Being Conservative: “[f]urther, he is aware that not all innovation is, in fact, improvement; and he will think that to innovate without improving is either designed or inadvertent folly” (Oakeshott [1949] 1991, 411). This sentiment falls very much in line with history. Such as with the French Revolution, not only did the French people execute their monarchs, but in the fight for democracy, they elected Napoleon as their leader. Another such example could be found in Soviet Russia, an instance that Oakeshott would be very much familiar with. In the early twentieth century, as the last Russian tsar was usurped by the Bolshevik’s, not only did result in the forceful subjugation of Russian citizens into vast work encampments, but also consequently led to the death of millions of those very same.

It should also be noted that if innovation, insofar as it is predicated on improvement, is something desired to be implemented, than it ought to be done at a more slow, methodical pace. This sets a precedence of valuing patience and a further aversion to risk. This is why, when a new policy is enacted into law, it is often tested on smaller scales then say, the national level.

In summary, conservative ideology can be boiled down into a few core tenets: society should be organized in accordance with human nature, a high emphasis is placed on the value of tradition, abstract rights are often rooted in a shallow understanding of human nature, improvement ought to come along with innovation, and any change done to the society should be slow and methodical.

Bibliography

Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to That Event. Printed for J. Dodsley, 1791.

Oakeshott, Michael. Rationalism in Politics and Other Essays. Liberty Fund, 1991.