What Is Conservatism? Philosophy, History & Key Thinkers

What Is Conservatism?

Conservatism is a political philosophy that emphasizes the value of tradition, established institutions, social order, and gradual change. Unlike liberalism, which prioritizes individual liberty, or socialism, which prioritizes equality, conservatism stresses the importance of continuity, stability, and the accumulated wisdom of past generations. It is not a single doctrine but a family of views united by a skeptical attitude toward radical social transformation and a preference for organic, evolutionary development.

Historical Origins

Conservatism arose as a direct response to the French Revolution of 1789. Edmund Burke (1729-1797), an Irish-born British statesman and philosopher, is widely regarded as the father of conservatism. In his seminal work Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790), Burke argued that the revolutionaries' attempt to remake society from first principles was dangerously hubristic. He contended that political institutions evolve organically over centuries, embodying the accumulated wisdom of countless generations.

Burke's critique was not merely pragmatic but philosophical. He viewed society as a "partnership" not only between the living but also between the living, the dead, and those yet to be born. This intergenerational contract imposes a duty on each generation to preserve and transmit inherited institutions and values.

Core Principles

Tradition and Prejudice

Conservatives place great value on tradition -- not as blind adherence to the past, but as a repository of practical wisdom. Edmund Burke famously defended "prejudice" as a form of pre-reflective knowledge that embodies the tested experience of a community over time. Traditions, he argued, contain insights that abstract reason cannot replicate.

Order and Authority

Conservatives maintain that social order is fragile and requires authority to sustain it. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) provided an early foundation for this view in Leviathan, arguing that without a sovereign authority, life would be a "war of all against all." While Hobbes was not himself a conservative, his emphasis on order and authority deeply influenced conservative thought.

Skepticism Toward Radical Change

A central conservative tenet is that reform should be gradual and cautious. Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), in Democracy in America, warned of the dangers of abrupt social transformation, even when motivated by noble ideals. He argued that democracy, while valuable, requires mediating institutions -- such as local associations, religious communities, and family -- to prevent the tyranny of the majority.

Varieties of Conservatism

Traditionalist conservatism, following Burke, emphasizes the organic development of society and the importance of religion, family, and local community. Leo Strauss (1899-1973) and his followers revived interest in classical political philosophy as a source of wisdom for modern politics.

Carl Schmitt (1888-1985) developed a more radical conservatism, emphasizing the friend-enemy distinction as the foundation of the political. His work The Concept of the Political challenged liberal universalism, arguing that political life is fundamentally about the assertion of collective identity and sovereignty.

Conservatism and Modernity

Conservatism has evolved considerably since Burke's time. Modern conservatives often embrace free-market economics, a position that classical liberals also hold, but they justify it in different terms -- emphasizing property rights, social stability, and the organic development of market institutions rather than individual autonomy.

Conclusion

Conservatism remains a vital and diverse political tradition. Its enduring insights about the fragility of social order, the wisdom embedded in tradition, and the dangers of ideological hubris continue to inform political debate across the world.