The conservative attitude: Michael Oakeshott and the post-war critique of the ideological style of politics

Authors

  • Jorge del Palacio Martín

Keywords:

Political ideologies, conservatism, skepticism, rationalism

Abstract

This article analyses one of the basic ideas of Michael Oakeshott’s political thought: the criticism of the ideological style in politics. The present piece will explain the connection between this criticism and Oakeshoot’s conservative attitude in politics, which implies a radical skepticism on rationalism-and theory-as a guide for political action. In order to do this analysis this article will focus on two facts: Michael Oakeshott’s conservative philosophy and the evolution of British postwar politics, featured by the rise of Labour Party.

Issue

Section

ARTICLES