OnConservatism

Think I need to refactor some stuff out of BecomingConservative to a general page on conservatism, and then focus BecomingConservative on the dynamics of changing one's political position.

Burkean Conservatism

PhilAgre on what it is : http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/conservatism.html

See also his discussion on EdmundBurke on TheArchitectureOfComplexity

Reading Edmund Burke Shows That Conservatism Is All About Defending Traditional Hierarchies :

In a discussion on HerbertSimon, PhilAgre says :

Writing in the late 18th century, EdmundBurke founded modern conservatism by convening an ideological coalition between the aristocracy and church – traditional social elites who wished to conserve a static social order of deference and authority – and the emergent merchant class – who wished to encourage a dynamic social order of commerce. Burke's project was not universally embraced in its day – far from it. But it has not disappeared, and it is currently the ascendent political movement in the United States. Like any coalition, the conservative coalition is not entirely stable. The interface between the dynamic and static components of its ideology must be constantly reworked and constantly smoothed over. Some of Burke's followers emphasize his themes of liberty; others his themes of order; and sometimes the themes are combined in ways that downplay their intrinsic tension. In any event, the point is that the explanatory schemata of hierarchy and self-organization are not always at war. Their relationship is complex and variable. Both schemata are woven throughout Western culture, and both are capable of coming to the surface in a wide variety of ways when conditions are right.

See TheArchitectureOfComplexity (worth reading in a political context)

Another View

Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit:

There must be in-groups whom the law protectes but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.

– Frank Wilhoit

Basically "conservatism" is just along the tribalism continuum.

What :

• are NeoConservatives?
• is CulturalConservatism?
• are ConservativeIntellectuals?

Proposal for a post neo-con, big government conservatism, post-Bush : http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/006/312korit.asp

Is this like OneNationTory?

• Conservatives and diversity : http://www.thevalve.org/go/valve/article/heykidsequalityortrillingandkirkdothediversitydosey_do/

BradDeLong calls for "smart" conservatives : http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2006/12/whereohwhere_.html