Edmund Burke’s Enduring Relevance
by Gerard Wilson
More than two centuries in his grave, the philosopher's warning that politics should and must be more than "an auction of popularity" has never lost its relevance, not least as radicalism and ballot-box venality continue to undermine both moral government and the polities of the West
Does Edmund Burke have anything to say to the modern world? Born in Dublin in 1729, he died at Beaconsfield, his debt-laden property in England, on the July 9, 1797. He was without personal scandal, a devoted family man, and a member of the House of Commons for nearly thirty years. His debts were constant and only relieved by aristocratic patrons whose generosity was not unexpectedly exploited by his enemies. His bequest to prosperity was never to be material. He left behind a voluminous literature in the form of books, pamphlets, speeches and letters. His mind was wide-ranging and his reading voracious. As editor of the Annual Register, he wrote commentaries on the major intellectual works of the period.
Most of his writing, however, concentrated on the political events of the age, in which he took a leading, sometimes determining, role. They included the American and French revolutions. In the debates about those events, he found it necessary to go behind the action to deal with fundamental philosophical questions and propose analyses, most of which remain worthy of study. His insights on politics and the role of politicians are as fresh today as when he put them to paper more than 200 years ago.
He is often acclaimed as the father of modern conservatism. This is largely due to his views on the prescriptive nature of tradition, custom and convention in a healthy, functioning society. It is true that he placed crucial importance on not interfering with social and political arrangements that had passed the test of time. Without further explanation, however, the title of conservative can be misleading. He was not a straightforward traditionalist, one resistant to rational change. Indeed, he said that the ability and willingness to change – change consistent with continuity – ensured a society’s conservation.
On America, he was the mouthpiece of the Whigs, the forerunners of liberal parties, defending the Americans colonists against the British government’s abuse of power. For this reason he was at the time cast as what we today would call a liberal. His views on economics were aligned with those of Adam Smith, who said that Burke was ‘the only man I ever knew who thinks on economic subjects exactly as I do, without any previous communications having passed between us.’ Burke was a proponent of parliamentary reform and introduced ideas about party in politics that prevail today. In many respects, he was a reforming politician.
When he denounced the actions of the French revolutionaries, however, some of his Whig confreres variously accused him of betrayal and inconsistency. Others branded him of being a lackey to the aristocratic class. But all charges of inconsistency were based on a failure to get to the fundamentals of Burke’s thinking. A deeper examination of his thought would reveal an astonishing consistency through all his writings.
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The Edmund Burke Club is organizing its first conference on the life and thought of its inspiration on Saturday, February 28, at LaTrobe University in Melbourne. Follow this link for further information
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