POLSCI 1AA3 Lecture 5: Lecture 5.1-Conservatism
2 Jan 2017
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In some senses it is dif cult to de ne conservatism as a theory. But the speci c institutions that are traditional differ according to time and place. Nevertheless, the conservative hypothesis is that deference to tradition is important. Edmund burke - reflections on the revolution in france, 1790. What will the french revolution look like in practice: Burke suggests that the revolution will end in despotism. In fact, revolutionary plans of any type are likely to end in violence and turmoil. We must consider society and what holds it together. Society is better seen as a living organism than as a mere collection of individuals. Individuals form part of a greater interdependent whole. Society cannot simply be disassembled and reassembled at will, in whatever form that a particular individual might desire. There are at least 2 reasons why a revolutionary plan to overthrow tradition and reconstruct society will likely not work as planned: 1. individual reason is fallible and limited.
