The Definitive Volume for Conservatives

books:


	• The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot Russell Kirk Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2001 - 535 pages average customer review:based on 29 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

illumination on every page

This book gave greater breadth and depth to my knowledge of conservative history and philosophy than any other book.

What I found to be most enjoyable about this book is its examination of the nature of many conservative thinkers, showing similarities and differences in the thinking of those who made the greatest impact on conservative philosophy. While the specifics of each thinker often differed, the "permenant things" remained in agreement and are the subject of our conservation.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an overview of conservativism in politics or philosophy, and just as highly recommend it to liberals as a wonderful "come from"; that they may understand the nature and history of conservativism.

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History of conservative ideas

This widely embraced overview of the history of conservativism gives readers a peek into the thoughts of the main conservative thinkers who have significantly influenced its contemporary form. Alexis de Tocqueville said that, "The surface of American society is covered with a layer of democratic paint, but from time to time one can see the old aristocratic colours breaking through." Kirk shows us the pallet to which de Tocqueville is referring.

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The Definitive Volume for Conservatives

~The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot~ by the late Russell Kirk is arguably one of the greatest contributions to twentieth-century American conservatism. This is real conservatism, not the typical neocon tripe by David Frum or Sean Hannity that masquerades behind the appellation of 'conservative.' Kirk presents a rock-solid historical journey through the conservative mind. Conservatives are of course more sober-minded than the assorted radicals and progressives of the Left. Conservatives have a sound doctrine of anthropology, because they grasp man's nature, and are realistic about the implications of it. Whereas, the political Left has a positive view of man, and from that emanates romantic quixotic fixations that manifest themselves in repugnant ideology that seldom meshes with reality.

The vignette sketches of Edmund Burke, John Adams, John Randolph, John Calhoun, Thomas Macauley, James Fennimore Cooper, Alexis de Tocqueville, John Quincy Adams, Benjamin Disreali, Irving Babbitt, George Santayana, and other luminaries represent insightful overview of the conservative movement in all its stripes. The essence of conservatism always lingered in the American mind, but when Russell Kirk distilled its core principles in his erudite works, he reinvigorated the intellectual groundwork for its defense and continuance. "People will not look forward to posterity", Burke wrote, "who never look backward to their ancestors."

"As the prophet of American conservatism, Russell Kirk has taught, nurtured, and inspired a generation. From... Piety Hill, he reached deep into the roots of American values, writing and editing central works of political philosophy. His intellectual contribution has been a profound act of patriotism. I look forward to the future with anticipation that his work will continue to exert a profound influence in the defense of our values and our cherished civilization."
--Ronald Reagan

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The Conservative's Bible

Kirk's book is supposedly the bible of Conservatives. Not neo-conservatives, but Conservatives. He sets up the long standing debate between the French, and Voltaie, and the English, using Burke as it's spokesman Supposedly Kirk would limit the vote, have a professional class of government officials, reduce if not eliminate most taxes, and let each individual strive for success. This is the basic mantra of classical conservatives, and is all well and good as far as it goes, but only a few of the many ever succeed this way. One of the surprises is how young Kirk was when this book was written; it's as if he had some inspiration for on high (probably not), or was cherry picking history (probably closer to the truth).

After reading this book I had a better understanding of where the Conservatives are coming from, althohgh I still don't understand why an obscure Royalist politician from the 18th century should be their flag bearer. Royality as a form of government most likely will never occcur in the US, although we seem to flirt with it from time to time.

Conservatives seem not admit of a meritotocracy, as we currently have in the US: they would rather rely on accidents of birth, cronyism and college organizations to select administrators, rather than people who have succeeded in other venues. A very informative, albeit frightening, book.

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