Political Philosophy: Oakeshott & de Maistre

Michael Oakeshott: Conservatism

• Human experience is diverse, encompassing scientific, historical, practical, and philosophical perspectives.
• Criticized reducing human life to purely rational or scientific viewpoints.
• Politics cannot be solely guided by reason or expert knowledge.
• Advocated for traditions and practical knowledge over rigid, ideological frameworks.
• Emphasized gradual, evolutionary change within inherited traditions.
• Viewed politics as negotiation and compromise, not ideological vision-building.
• Believed ideologies oversimplify human complexities and ignore practical wisdom.

Joseph de Maistre: Authoritarian Conservatism

• The Pope holds ultimate spiritual and temporal power, derived from divine right.
• Rejected social contract theories, asserting political authority originates in divine providence.
• Advocated for centralized, undivided sovereignty for societal stability.
• Emphasized that legitimate governance aligns with divine and moral principles.

Benjamin Disraeli: Paternalistic Conservatism

• Balanced conservative principles with strategic reforms, including expanding suffrage to the working class.
• Advocated for a unified society through his "One-Nation Conservatism" philosophy.
• Supported the expansion of the British Empire as crucial for national power.

Emma Goldman: Anarchism

• Opposed state control and organized religion as inherently oppressive.
• Argued that democracy often disregards minority rights.
• Emphasized personal freedom, rejecting coercive societal structures.
• Believed true freedom requires ensuring equality, particularly advocating for women's rights.
• Advocated for direct resistance and mutual aid as methods to dismantle injustice.

Mikhail Bakunin: Anarchism

• Opposed all forms of centralized authority (political, religious, and social) as oppressive.
• Advocated for the abolition of the state and hierarchies, aiming for a society based on voluntary cooperation.
• Emphasized individual liberty and believed in economic and social autonomy through decentralized self-governance.
• Supported direct action, underground movements, and decentralized worker cooperatives.
• Envisioned a society based on mutual aid, solidarity, and the absence of political domination.

Explore the contrasting views of Michael Oakeshott and Joseph de Maistre on conservatism. This quiz delves into Oakeshott's emphasis on tradition and practical knowledge versus de Maistre's authoritarian perspective rooted in divine authority. Test your understanding of these influential political thinkers.