On Michael Oakeshott’s Conservatism And The Causes Of Its Making

In Michael Oakeshott’s complicated thought, his ideas on conservatism in different versions are worth to hear. Oakeshott’s conservatism thought were inspired. First, he defined conservatism as a disposition and it was important to human identity. It was different with other thinker of conservatism who believed that conservatism was a doctrine or a policy. Second, he reminded us that political practice was special, its practice, occasionality, necessary and limit-ness. Because of its particularity, it was suitable to be conservative in political practice. Third, Oakeshott believed that liberty was not defined by law, it was a life-style. Rule by law was the best way to protect liberty and was the most economic govern manner. Oakeshott’s conservatism was not a doctrine, but a warning of the popular of rationalism in politics. Government should be a judge of human practice. Because it was impossible to recognize the law of human history, so the government had no reason and power to control people’s daily life. And more, the modern western culture encouraged people to pursuit different life target. The moral principles, human condition and religion should be the foundation of government and not the reverse.The first element that constructs his conservatism is British-idealism which he learned and studied in his early years in Cambridge. British-idealism has a different idea on epistemology and truth with Positivism which was popular in Britain in Oakeshott’s days. And British-idealism has a special perspective on human and being. This is the foundation of Oakeshott’s Conservatism political philosophy. The idea that Oakeshott’s conservatism was only the response of the fact that British Labor Party won the election in 1945 is wrong. From a long history view, the tendency beyond the fact was the rise of Rationalism in politics in modern Europe. Oakeshott’s view on Rationalism was focused on the moment of the making of western culture. There are two aspects. The first, the prosperity in material, the expansion of social intercourse and the growing complicity of social affairs have a deep request on government power, and at the same time, it provides conditions. Second, the rising of individualism and the anti-individualism. Both of them influenced the existing social structure. We must recognize that the unique understanding of modern Europe constituted his foundation of political philosophy.In a word, the conservatism of Michael Oakeshott was the product of history. His philosophy of Idealism gives him a unique perspective on history and human condition. His reflection on modern Europe and western culture and his concern of human salvation made him to be conservatism. Philosophy thinking, history reflection and the time are the three elements which made his political philosophy.On account of his thought, we should give Michael Oakeshott a higher evaluation. His conservatism had a deeply recognize on political nature and it rebuilt the philosophy foundation of British conservatism tradition. And more, because of his recognize of liberty and his battle with rationalism in politics, Oakeshott worth to be honored as a human right protector like Friedrich Hayek and John Rawls.