Rationalism in politics and other essays / Michael Oakeshott ; foreword by Timothy Fuller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Oakeshott, Michael, 1901-1990.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--Philosophy.

Political science.

Rationalism.

konzervativizmus--tanulmányok.

politikaelmélet--angol--20. sz--tanulmányok.

rationalism (philosophy).

Local Subjects:

konzervativizmus--tanulmányok.

politikaelmélet--angol--20. sz--tanulmányok.

Physical Description:

xxvi, 556 pages : portrait ; 24 cm

Edition:

New and expanded ed.

Place of Publication:

Indianapolis : Liberty Fund, ©1991.

Summary:

Rationalism in Politics, first published in 1962, has established the late Michael Oakeshott as the leading conservative political theorist in modern Britain. This expanded collection of essays astutely points out the limits of "reason" in rationalist politics. Oakeshott criticizes ideological schemes to reform society according to supposedly "scientific" or rationalistic principles that ignore the wealth and variety of human experience. "Rationalism in politics," says Oakeshott, "involves a misconception with regard to the nature of human knowledge." History has shown that it produces unexpected, often disastrous results. "Having cut himself off from the traditional knowledge of his society, and denied the value of any education more extensive than a training in a technique of analysis," the Rationalist succeeds only in undermining the institutions that hold civilized society together. In this regard, rationalism in politics is "a corruption of the mind."

Contents:

Reason and the conduct of political life. Rationalism in politics ; Political education ; Political discourse

Dissecting rationalism. Rational conduct ; The new Bentham ; The activity of being an historian ; The study of politics in a university

On Hobbes. Introduction to Leviathan ; The moral life in the writings of Thomas Hobbes ; Logos and telos

Reflections on modern politics. The masses in representative democracy ; The political economy of freedom ; On being conservative ; Talking politics

On the human condition. The tower of Babel ; The voice of poetry in the conversation of mankind.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Oakeshott, Michael, 1901-1990. Rationalism in politics and other essays.

ISBN:

0865970947

9780865970946

0865970955

9780865970953

OCLC:

23141305