Conservatism, Past and Present

In Conservatism, Past and Present: A Philosophical Introduction, Tristan J. Rogers argues that philosophical conservatism is a coherent and compelling set of historically rooted ideas about conserving and promoting the human good.  Part I, ?Conservatism Past,? presents a history of conservative ideas, exploring themes, such as the search for wisdom, the limits of philosophy, reform in preference to revolution, the relationship between authority and freedom, and liberty as a living tradition. Major figures include Aristotle, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Edmund Burke, G.W.F. Hegel, and Roger Scruton.  Part II, ?Conservatism Present,? applies philosophical conservatism to contemporary conservative politics, focusing on issues such as nationalism, populism, the family, education, and responsibility.  

Rogers shows that conservatism has been defined differently at different times: as a loose set of connected ideas reacting against the French Revolution; as a kind of disposition or instinct in favor of the status quo; and more recently as any ideas opposed to the political left.  But he also allows a set of questions to guide his argument for conservatism?s merits:  What is conservatism? Is it a coherent and attractive philosophy? What are conservatives for? And how is today?s conservatism related to its past?  In his answers, Rogers paints a compelling and coherent picture of an aligned and attractive set of ideas.

"Tristan Rogers' Conservatism, Past and Present is an important contribution. Against the widespread neglect of conservative thought in the academy, Rogers shows that there is a serious tradition of conservative political philosophy?with which responsible political philosophers must engage?by tracing conservative themes in the thought of major thinkers within the Western intellectual tradition, including Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas, Hume, Burke, Hegel, Tocqueville, and so on. Drawing on this tradition, Rogers articulates and defends a position he calls ?philosophical conservatism,? which he deploys to advance conservative views on contemporary political debates, demonstrating the continued appeal of conservative thought." 

-Dr. David McPherson, Professor of Philosophy at the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education, University of Florida, USA.