The Conservative Mind
Also known as The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot
Russell Kirk's 1953 history of Anglo-American conservatism from Burke.
At a glance
Key ideas
Six canons, Liberal ideals, A conservative revolution
See all 3Reception
Whittaker Chambers, David Frum, Bradley Birzer
See all 3Connections
See all 2
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Kirk traces the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving special weight to Edmund Burke.
- He sets out six canons of conservatism and contrasts them with liberal ideals such as human perfectibility and hostility to tradition.
- He argues the American Revolution was a conservative reaction against royal innovation.
- The book barely mentions economics.
Why it matters
- It influenced the postwar American conservative movement and revived Burkean thought, challenging the idea that America had no coherent conservative tradition.
Key facts
- Author
- Russell Kirk1
- Published
- 1953, as his doctoral dissertation1
- Editions
- Seven, the later ones subtitled From Burke to Eliot1
- Translations
- Including Bulgarian, Czech, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish and Portuguese1
Key ideas
-
Six canons1
Transcendent order; variety and mystery; orders and classes; property and freedom; custom and prescription; prudent change.
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Liberal ideals1
Perfectibility, hostility to tradition, rapid change and secular government.
-
A conservative revolution1
The American Revolution as a conservative reaction against royal innovation.
Reception
Connections
Links
Sources
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