Friday, May 28, 2004
Notes. Schematics of Conservatism. [POLI-PHIL]
Book review at IntellectualConservative.com of, by Craig Schiller, The Guilty Conscience of a Conservative.
A perceptive passage of the book related there presents a scheme of understanding the types in the conservative movement. They are: (1) the provincialists and (2) the universalists, of which the latter consists of (a) metaphysical-based , (b) historical-based, and (c) empirical-based. A third category (3) alluded to in passing in the review: utopianism, a la Rand and Nozick.
Frank Meyer is considered a provincialist. So, too, another M. Stanton Evans: These seek to ground conservatism in a moderation between authority and liberty -- unless it is: a fusion or complementarity between these. The reviwer notes that perhaps Hoppe represents some of what small place this tradition has in America.
The empiricists -- so-called -- are repsented by a Mr. Donald A. Zoll. Truth is 'transrational' (Schiller). Follows after Jung after a fashion. Psychic inheritance.
The universalists, represented by Frederic Wilhelmson. He wrote as a Catholic and did not generalize so as to pluralize his ideas across other religions. Values (?) are universal. Ideologies are relative. Practical politics is the art of applying the universal to the temporal.
The historical-based thinkers, represented by Russell Kirk. History, specifically Western history, provides the grounding. Think of Burke in this regard. It fails in that it lacks axiological underpinnings -- its theoretical edifice is in flux.
Thomas Molnar: greatly admired by Schiller. He has insights from many places. (I'm not sure where he is supposed to fit in the scheme.)
Another passage of the book (related in the review) discusses Schiller's scheme of conservative attitudes. (1) Prudential: Certain principles (free-enterprise, free-trade, etc.) allow for peace and prosperity. (2) Traditional morality as embodied in its customs. Think: Jerry Falwell; says the reviewer. Certain moral customs underpin the good of society. (3) Something about eternal values. Think of the abortion issue, I suppose. (4) Something against the welfare-state. Maybe (I speculate): call it rebellion.
Interesting schemes, the above two, regardless of one's personal stance on politics, whether conservative or not.
A perceptive passage of the book related there presents a scheme of understanding the types in the conservative movement. They are: (1) the provincialists and (2) the universalists, of which the latter consists of (a) metaphysical-based , (b) historical-based, and (c) empirical-based. A third category (3) alluded to in passing in the review: utopianism, a la Rand and Nozick.
Frank Meyer is considered a provincialist. So, too, another M. Stanton Evans: These seek to ground conservatism in a moderation between authority and liberty -- unless it is: a fusion or complementarity between these. The reviwer notes that perhaps Hoppe represents some of what small place this tradition has in America.
The empiricists -- so-called -- are repsented by a Mr. Donald A. Zoll. Truth is 'transrational' (Schiller). Follows after Jung after a fashion. Psychic inheritance.
The universalists, represented by Frederic Wilhelmson. He wrote as a Catholic and did not generalize so as to pluralize his ideas across other religions. Values (?) are universal. Ideologies are relative. Practical politics is the art of applying the universal to the temporal.
The historical-based thinkers, represented by Russell Kirk. History, specifically Western history, provides the grounding. Think of Burke in this regard. It fails in that it lacks axiological underpinnings -- its theoretical edifice is in flux.
Thomas Molnar: greatly admired by Schiller. He has insights from many places. (I'm not sure where he is supposed to fit in the scheme.)
Another passage of the book (related in the review) discusses Schiller's scheme of conservative attitudes. (1) Prudential: Certain principles (free-enterprise, free-trade, etc.) allow for peace and prosperity. (2) Traditional morality as embodied in its customs. Think: Jerry Falwell; says the reviewer. Certain moral customs underpin the good of society. (3) Something about eternal values. Think of the abortion issue, I suppose. (4) Something against the welfare-state. Maybe (I speculate): call it rebellion.
Interesting schemes, the above two, regardless of one's personal stance on politics, whether conservative or not.
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