The Politics of Edmund Burke as Related to Classical Liberalism and its Derivatives

Edmund Burke was a political philosopher and a member of British Parliament who is generally considered to be the founder of modern conservatism. His politics are a fusion of other political theorists, and thus aren't particularly cohesive or systematic. However, Burke is an important figure in the history of political thought and he was known for his ability as an orator and statesman.

Burke saw society as if it was an evolving organism. He felt that, like a body, all aspects of a society must be functioning properly in order for society as a whole to remain healthy. Also like a body, he saw society as always attempting a homeostasis. He claimed that there was a delicate balance with all the institutions of society. When one goes into an upheaval, it serves as a profound shock to the rest of society. A society therefore needed to avoid potentially catastrophic rapid or continual changes, as it would leave it reeling. He realized that change was ultimately necessary for an society, but felt that it was done best when it came slowly. This would allow the other aspects of society to adjust properly.

Burke felt that most social changes arose due to a desire for novelty. While he wasn't wholly opposed to change, he believed in tradition and felt that people should be slow to change, allowing everything to adjust properly. He felt that people should consider why existing institutions have lasted as long as they have before attempting to make drastic changes to them. He believed in a concept called "prejudice". Burke felt that the old traditional institutions were natural to people and that they were prejudiced towards these institutions and regarded them as normal. He felt that these prejudices were necessary fo...

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...c ambitions. Libertarianism felt this would drain a society of its resources and cause the state to grow too powerful. In this way they are quite similar to Edmund Burke who came out against British imperialism, most notably through his support of the colonists in America and India.

There is, however, a general tension that exists between libertarians and the modern conservatism that Burke is most often associated with. John Stuart Mill called the conservative Tories "the stupid party". Libertarians are more economically liberal than conservatives, though for the most part they agree on economic issues. Where the two ideologies clash the most is in the area of social policy. Conservatives typically believe in outlawing what they consider destructive immoral behavior, while libertarianism emphasises personal liberty and the absence of government restraints.