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On being conservative
- GenresPolitics
35 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 1956
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Michael Oakeshott
63 books124 followersEnglish philosopher and political theorist who wrote about philosophy of history, philosophy of religion, aesthetics, and philosophy of law. He is widely regarded as one of the most important conservative thinkers of the 20th century, although he has sometimes been characterized as a liberal thinker.
Oakeshott was dismayed by the descent into political extremism that took place in Europe in the 1930s, and his surviving lectures from this period reveal a dislike of National Socialism and Marxism.
In 1945, Oakeshott was demobilized and returned to Cambridge for two years. In 1947, he left Cambridge for Nuffield College, Oxford. After only a year, he secured an appointment as Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics (LSE), succeeding Harold Laski. He was deeply unsympathetic to the student action at LSE that occurred in the late 1960s, on the grounds that it disrupted the aims of the university. Oakeshott retired from LSE in 1969.
Oakeshott refused an offer of Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, for which he was proposed by Margaret Thatcher.
Oakeshott was dismayed by the descent into political extremism that took place in Europe in the 1930s, and his surviving lectures from this period reveal a dislike of National Socialism and Marxism.
In 1945, Oakeshott was demobilized and returned to Cambridge for two years. In 1947, he left Cambridge for Nuffield College, Oxford. After only a year, he secured an appointment as Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics (LSE), succeeding Harold Laski. He was deeply unsympathetic to the student action at LSE that occurred in the late 1960s, on the grounds that it disrupted the aims of the university. Oakeshott retired from LSE in 1969.
Oakeshott refused an offer of Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, for which he was proposed by Margaret Thatcher.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 16, 2025
Many people may misunderstand this book because it is not solely based on politics, rather it is rife with metaphors on football and fishing which may represent it as a Lads bible rather than a political commentary.
However, rather than mellowing about the fishing anecdotes it is more appropriate to notice how Oakeshott cleverly attempts to describe how Conservativism is a way of life, rather than a left or right issue.
Through metaphors and anecdotes, we see how change is not always necessary - whether that be through the House of Commons or the Football games and how Conservatives ought to not reject change, or fully accept it but to be wary. It is an essay on society and morality as much as politics.
However, rather than mellowing about the fishing anecdotes it is more appropriate to notice how Oakeshott cleverly attempts to describe how Conservativism is a way of life, rather than a left or right issue.
Through metaphors and anecdotes, we see how change is not always necessary - whether that be through the House of Commons or the Football games and how Conservatives ought to not reject change, or fully accept it but to be wary. It is an essay on society and morality as much as politics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review