The Conservatism of Michael Oakeshott (1 Viewer)

[DumbTeen]

Has anyone read this man's philosophy? Particulary his views on "rationalism in politics"? I've been doing a political thought course at university and none of the thinkers really were terribly convincing (we did Weber, Freud, Marcuse, Bernstein, Lenin) but Oakeshott I thought was pretty good.

Specifically, do you think his conservatism (which is distinctly anti-ideological and anti-radical) has anything to do with modern conservatism?

Personally, I don't think they have anything in common but the name. The "conservatives" of today base all their views on free trade, neoliberalism, abortion, gay marriage and limited government based on God and natural rights. Real conservatives (in Oakeshott's sense) would believe in things because they are traditional, not because of "God", "natural rights" or anything else your reason makes up.

Your thoughts? Do conservatives value their values because they are traditional or because of God or reason?

 

[Donkey1499]

This is tough, for me anyway. Cuz my conservative beliefs go along the lines of just because it's traditional (like Family Values) and also because of God (Law and Order). So I guess it's like a mixture, or like it depends on the individual conservative.