The Legend of Oakeshott's Conservatism

Sceptical Philosophy and Limited Politics

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6238846
AutoresJ Rayner (0000-0002-9031-5457, Lakehead University, autor correspondente)
Ano1985
Volume18
Fascículo2
Páginas313-338
Data de publicação1985-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCanadian Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0008-4239 • E-ISSN: 1744-9324
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0008423900030274
OpenAlexW2111711896
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas12
Referências citadas20

Michael Oakeshott's contribution to political philosophy has been overshadowed by the widespread belief that the proper context for his writings is modern conservatism. The legend of Oakeshott's conservatism is shown to rest on a misunderstanding of the way in which his view of politics as a specific and limited activity is derived from a more general, sceptical account of the relation between belief and conduct. His scepticism here is not a Burkean rejection of the relevance of general beliefs, but a Humean call for “speculative moderation” appropriate to the occasion. This is not to say that Oakeshott's writings are without political significance. In fact, their significance lies in their powerful critique of modern conservatism in Europe and America

Conservatism · Context (archaeology · Epistemology · Moderation · Political philosophy · Political science · Politics · Relation (database · Relevance (law · Skepticism · Hermeneutics and Narrative Identity · History · Law · Philosophy · Philosophy, History, and Historiography · Political Theory and Influence · Psychology · Social Psychology