The meaning of conservatism

Author: Roger Scruton
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Conservatism originates from its attitude toward civil society, and the political theory of conservatism is entirely rooted in the concept of civil society. Conservatives do not appeal to utopian futures or any future that does not in some way reflect the present and the past. This book is a seminal work of neo-conservatism in Europe and America at the end of the 20th century, following in the footsteps of Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France and Cecil's Conservatism. I will demonstrate that the attitude of conservatism and the system of beliefs that sustain it are systematic and rational. Conservatism rarely presents itself in the form of maxims, formulas, or goals. Its essence is difficult to articulate, and if it must be expressed, it is done so in a skeptical manner. Conservatism is an attitude that can be defined without identifying with any party's policies. In fact, for those who dislike all party ideas, conservatism is an attractive stance.