December 1, 2003. ת Russell Kirk's Six Canons of Conservatism.

James Pinkerton, in lamenting in National Review modern conservatism's unwillingness to oppose things such as social security and medicare, gives us the six Canons of Conservatism of Russell Kirk, author of The Conservative Mind (1953):

  1. A divine intent, as well as personal conscience, rules society.

  2. Traditional life is filled with variety and mystery while most radical systems are characterized by a narrowing uniformity.

  3. Civilized society requires orders and classes.

  4. Property and freedom are inseparably connected.

  5. Man must control his will and his appetite, knowing that he is governed more by emotion than by reason.

  6. Society must alter slowly.

An interesting list. It does fail to describe what is now called conservatism in America ("orders and classes" simply don't enter most American intellectuals' minds now, do they?), and it is not inclusive (there is no item objecting to government regulation). But I am sympathetic, and the list is good for reminding us of what conservatism has been, and of some sentiments that may underlie our policy preferences.

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