Conservatism is both politically significant, and has received surprisingly little investigation in the contemporary academy. This is in part because of a methodological conviction shared by many conservatives, which rejects a priori theorising in favour of the wisdom embodied in tradition. More generally, conservatism is more an outlook or habit of thought than a set of doctrines. Further strands of thought within the outlook include:
- the value of the particular in contrast to the universal, and the legitimacy of the specific loyalties that arise as a result
- the ‘givenness’ of human identity in contrast to the ‘chosenness’
- the importance of civic, religious and familial associations, which the state supports, but which have their own independent authority
- the achievement implicit in any stable and (moderately) just social order, and the dangers inherent in unbalancing that order.
Aspects of Conservatism is a series of ad hoc events in the coming year which aims to explore elements of this outlook in more detail. The strands of thought identified above do not find expression only on the political right, and this series is not engaged in party advocacy.
If you wish to be kept informed of forthcoming events, please join the mailing list.
Convenor: Tom Simpson is Associate Professor of Philosophy & Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, and Senior Research Fellow, Wadham College, University of Oxford.
Maurice Glasman, ‘The Beauty of Conservatism’
Tuesday 17 October, 2017 - 17:30 to 19:00, Moser Theatre, Wadham College
Paul Faulkner, ‘Trust in Government’
Wednesday, 1 November, 2017 - 17:30 to 19:00, Group Working Room 9, Blavatnik School of Government
Danny Kruger, ‘The Country We Want to Be’
Thursday 16 November, 2017 - 17:30 to 19:00, Lecture Theatre 2, Blavatnik School of Government
Maria Cahill ‘On subsidiarity'
Friday, 9 February, 2018 - 14:00 to 15:30, Blavatnik School of Government