EdmundBurke(17291797) Biography Edmund Burke was born in Ireland to a family of both Protestants and Catholics in 1729.

He initially studied law at Trinity College in Dublin, but soon moved to London and began a literary career.HepublishedAVindicationofourNaturalSocietyin1756and APhilosophicalInquiryintotheOriginofOurIdeasoftheSublimeand Beautifulin1757.In1766hewonaseatintheHouseofCommonsof the British Parliament. He was affiliated with the Whig party, but tried to find compromises between Whig and Tory ideals. His most famous work is Reflections on the Revolution in France, written in 1790justaftertheFrenchRevolution.Initheeloquentlysummarizes and explains the conservative ideologies that oppose the French Revolution, leading to him being considered the father of modern Conservatism.Burkediedin1797. ReflectionsontheRevolutioninFrance In Reflections on the Revolution in France, Burke criticises the French Revolutionaries rejection oftradition.Hebelievesthatthemoststableandsuccessfulformofgovernmentisthatofaconstitution that is inherited, as the idea of inheritance furnishes a sure principle of conservation and a sure principle of transmission, without at all excluding a principle of improvement (Burke, 64). As examples, he cites the stability of the English system with an inheritable crown and peerage. He believes that an inheritedconstitutionalgovernmentissuccessfulbecauseitsecuresandtransmitsanypastsuccesseson to future generations. In this way, society will remain balanced and stable even as older members of societydieandarereplacedbyyoungeroneswiththesameideologiesandbeliefs.Thus,bypreserving themethodofnatureintheconductofthestate,inwhatweimproveweareneverwhollynew;inwhat weretainweareneverwhollyobsolete(65) Burkebelievesthatforacivilsocietytoexist,peoplehavetosacrificetheirnaturalrights.Within a society all men have equal rights, but not to equal things (65). Burke believes that individuals are rightfullyentitledtotheinheritanceoftheirparentsandthefruitsoftheirindustry,butdonothavethe rightstoashareofthemanagementofthestatenortherighttojudgetheirowncause.Bysurrendering therighttodefendthemselvestothestate,theindividualsofthestatenolongercanclaimtheirnatural rights. Men cannot enjoy the rights of an uncivil and of a civil state together (66). Burke also argues that it is the governments responsibility to control its subjects and provide a sufficient restraint upon theirpassions(66). Burke believes that the science of governing a body of people is very complicated and, like any science, requires experience to be done well. Since no single individual or even group of individuals can haveenough experienceinrunninggovernmenttobeconsidered expertsatit, theonlyway toensurea successful government is to rely on the experiences of the past and traditions in determining

governmental systems. Burke rejects the Enlightenment thinkers new ideas on better systems of government thatrejects pasttraditions.Instead,he proudly claimsoftheBritishsystemofgovernment; We know that we have made no discoveries, and we think that no discoveries are to be made, in morality(67). Although Burke supported the American Revolution, as it was in the British tradition of preserving English liberties and rights (63), he strongly criticises the French revolution in Reflections on the Revolution in France. He disapproves of the fact that the French Revolutionaries were trying to completely restructure their society on an ideological basis and rejecting all elements of the past. Burke believes that this sort of government based on liberal ideologies will be unstable and vindictive without thestabilizingeffectofpasttraditions. DiscussionQuestions 1. Onpage64Burkestatesthattheideaofinheritancefurnishesasureprincipleofconservation andasureprincipleoftransmission,withoutatallexcludingaprincipleofimprovement.Do youagreewiththisstatement? 2. Onpage66,BurkearguesthatMencannotenjoytherightsofanuncivilandofacivilstate together.Whatdoeshemeanbythis?Whatexamplesdoesheuse? 3. Burkestatesonpage66thattheinclinationsofmenshouldfrequentlybethwarted,theirwill controlled,andtheirpassionsbroughtintosubjugation.Doyouagreewiththisstatement? 4. Onpage67,Burkeproudlystatesthatthankstooursullenresistancetoinnovation,thanksto thecoldsluggishnessofournationalcharacter,westillbearthestampofourforefathers.Is thisstatementsomethingtobeproudof? 5. BurkeishighlycriticaloftheFrenchRevolutionaries,callingthemonpage68:thosewhose principleitistodespisetheancient,permanentsenseofmankindandtosetupaschemeof societyonnewprinciples.DoyouagreewithBurkethattheFrenchRevolutionariesshouldnot havetriedtocreateanentirelynewsystemofgovernment? 6. AlthoughBurkecriticisedtheFrenchRevolution,hesupportedtheAmericanRevolutionand agreedwiththeGloriousRevolution.Whataspectsoftheserevolutionsmayhavecausedhimto haveamorepositiveviewonthem? 7. HowdoBurkeswritingsdifferfrommostotherEnlightenmentthinkersofthetime,andwhy mightthesedifferencesexist? 8. WhatmodernorrecentpoliticiansorpoliticalmovementshaveincorporatedBurkesviewson conservatismintotheirideologies?Doyouthinktheuseoftraditionandconservatismwas successful?