United States

Conservative Theory

In Western political theory, conservatism traces its roots to British political and social philosopher and activist Edmund Burke, who presented his conservatives theories in Reflections on the Revolution in France in 1790. While Burke recognized the legitimacy of the American Revolution wherein Americans were fighting to reclaim traditional English rights, he argued that the French were not justified in overthrowing the monarchy to establish popular sovereignty.

Drawing on the theories of Greek philosopher Aristotle to explain his views on equality/inequality, Burke rejected the views of Enlightenment thinkers, who tended to be classical liberals. Aristotle believed in a natural inequality that allowed masters to rule over slaves, men to dominate women, and parents to control their children. Equality was possible, in Aristotle's view, only among equals. Burke accepted this “natural” inequality, maintaining that good government was composed of a descending hierarchy of monarchy, aristocracy, and the people. The latter group was made up of property owners, merchants, nobles, and the landed gentry. According to Burke, inherited prejudices form an acceptable element of respected tradition to which all conservatives owe allegiance.

Burke rejected the classical liberal explanation that civil societies formed as individuals left the state of nature for the security of government. Burke argued that [Page 927]civil society was the natural state of man. Rather than the natural rights philosophy espoused by John Locke and Thomas Jefferson, Burke insisted that rights were only relevant when they existed in a given society. Burkean conservatism espoused the belief that order is the main function of any government, with liberty playing a secondary role. Burke contended that conservatives should be guided by a dependence on religious tenets, a strong love of kindred, and a healthy respect for equality and justice.

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