Episode 151: Edmund Burke’s Conservatism (Part Two)

Summary: Continuing on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflections_on_the_Revolution_in_France" target="_blank">Reflections on the Revolution in France</a> (1790), where Burke advocates for the existence of the nobility as a stabilizing element in society: These folks are driven by honor, groomed from youth to lead, and estates themselves provide continuity and give people something to protect.<br> But could anyone really defend this system who wasn't himself benefitting from it at the expense of others? Burke thinks even the poor under this system benefit, that the fact that anarchy is so much worse means that they have implicitly signed on to the system. Even our "prejudices" are something to be valued, because they've kept us out of trouble so far. Reform, not revolution!<br> Listen to <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/11/07/ep151-1-burke/" target="_blank">part 1</a> first, or get the unbroken, ad-free <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/11/05/ep151-burke-citizen/" target="_blank">Citizen version</a> with your <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/membership-options/" target="_blank">PEL Citizenship</a>.<br> End song: "Hard Times of Old England" from Peter Knight's Gigspanner (from Layers of Ages, 2015); listen to Mark's interview with Peter on Nakedly Examined Music ep. 27 at <a href="http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/2016/10/30/nem27-peter-knight-steeleye-span/" target="_blank">nakedlyexaminedmusic.com</a>.<br>