Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke

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Yoram Hazony: Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke

Michael Knowles, The Book Club, Sep 27, 2022

The American Revolution led to the birth of a new, free nation, while the French Revolution led to blood and terror. What was the difference and what can we learn from history before it’s rewritten or forgotten entirely? Political theorist and Bible scholar Yoram Hazony joins Michael Knowles for a discussion about Edmund Burke’s treatise “Reflections on the Revolution in France.” link title https://www.prageru.com/video/yoram-hazony-reflections-on-the-revolution-in-france-by-edmund-burke

Two Parties

Bill of rights and traditions 14: the way things work 17: right property 19:27 Traditions of men or the traditions of God, Ten Commandments. 21: pure reason is the tree of knowledge 26 equality 22: community

Questions

https://www.hoover.org/research/yoram-hazony-rediscovers-conservatism

Edmund Burke was an Anglo-Irish statesman, economist, and philosopher. Born in Dublin, Burke served as a member of Parliament between 1766 and 1794 in the House of Commons of Great Britain with the Whig Party.

In the 19th century, Burke was praised by both conservatives and liberals. Subsequently, in the 20th century, he became widely regarded, especially in the United States, as the philosophical founder of conservatism.

Arguments. In the Reflections on the Revolution in France, Burke argued that the French Revolution would end disastrously because its abstract foundations, purportedly rational, ignored the complexities of human nature and society. It is important that people of the world understand human nature before they attempt to reorganize society.

Edmund Burke's political principles were rooted in moral natural law.

A model of a Burkean theory opposed the delegate model of representation. In the trustee model, Burke argued that his behavior in Parliament should be informed by his knowledge and experience, allowing him to serve the public interest. He argued strongly against unrestrained royal power and for the role of political parties in maintaining a principled opposition capable of preventing abuses, either by the monarch, or by specific factions within the government.

In order to accomplish that the people needed to be both moral and organized on a grass roots level and they must create the social bonds through moral activity. Burke concluded that 'man is made for Speculation and action; and when he pursues his nature he succeeds best in both.

Little platoon

“All who have ever written on government are unanimous, that among people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist.” Edmond Burke

Edmond "Burke’s critique of the French revolution centres primarily upon its flawed attempt to create a utopian society based upon the slogans of ‘liberty, fraternity and equality.’ This is to ignore the social bonds that keep us together, and marks an attempt to replace the accumulated wisdom of previous generations with abstractions."

The cry for revolution or even the formation of a militia must follow a long held custom of mutual care. If the masses have become accustomed to living at the expense of others the people will have to learn to practice other means and methods of providing the welfare for society in order to reestablish the social bonds of a free society before they will be able to effect any mutual defense.

"The hot-headed idealists who manned the barricades were entirely wrong to believe they could construct a new world from the ashes of the old. They placed their faith in destruction rather than preservation; thereby acting contrary to what Burke claimed should be the guiding principles of society."

The guiding principals of society are often lost on the generation that has not learned nor practiced them. Legal charity demoralizes the people and of course divides the people degenerating those bonds through a civil table of welfare that is a snare.

"Unlike other social contract theorists such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke and Thomas Hobbes; Burke believed that “society is but a contract between the dead, the living and those yet to be born.” We must therefore construct civilisation by giving weight to our ancestors, ourselves and those still to be born."

Without Right Reason the people would be ill equipped to provide an adequate defense much less have the capability to provide the skill to reestablish society in a fruitfully free social structure. France went from king to dictator and suffered for it. The same was true with ancient Israel who sought a king in the days of King Saul which eventually brought destruction and captivity.

Burke reminds the people they must attend to the weightier matters of society from the grass roots on and individual bases.

The platoon of tens

In our article concerning why the Masses degenerate we wrote of Burke's "little Platoon":

"To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affections. It is the first link in the series by which we proceed towards a love to our country and to mankind."

The heart of the individual must be willing to sacrifice for the heart and health of his fellow man. That is found in the means and method of religion.

But without pure Religion there is no liberty.

Edmund talks about the need to be attached to and "love the little platoon" which is why Christ commanded His disciples to sit down in tens. By organize themselves in this network of sharing and caring where each small intimate group of tens are connected to each other small group until hundreds and thousands create a body bound by those social bonds of a free nation.

That is what the Kingdom of God was in the mind of the the early followers of Christ. The network they created by this love made it possible for Paul and the Apostles to send aide during the dearths that swept across the Roman Empire in Acts.