Oakeshott, or the political philosophy of a skeptical gentleman

Authors

  • Pablo Badillo O'Farrell Universidad de Sevilla

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18042/cepc/rep.178.02

Keywords:

Michael Oakeshott, philosophy, politics, political philosophy, skepticism, gentleman.

Abstract

This article analyses three major aspects of the English author Michael Oakeshott’s thinking. First, we study the relation between philosophy and politics, along with the possibility of finding a concept of political philosophy in his work, since he always considered relations between the two spheres to be problematic. Second, we analyze his skeptical attitude towards politics, an attitude contrary to those positions that maintained confidence and certainty regarding the attainment of a goal or an end, displaying an attitude comparable to followers of the postulates of a religious faith. Finally, we consider how this skeptical position became identified with the behavioral parameters he considered appropriate for a gentleman.