Conservatism Between Politics and Philosophy

Abstract

From its beginnings, conservatism has been the “between-ideology”: an ideology against ideologies, a universal in homage to the particular, a movement between politics and philosophy. The Panel aims to explore this tension within and across the work of diverse conservative thinkers. Suggested areas of work are: • Concepts in Conservative Thought: explore particular concepts such as “Tradition”, “Change,” “Politics,” or “Philosophy” through intellectual or conceptual history. What role do these concepts play in conservative thought? • Conservatism and the Problem of the Best Regime: many conservative particularists have a view of the best regime, yet the claim that this view raises is necessarily universal. What then is the status of the Best Regime in different conservative thinkers? • The Relationship between Politics and Philosophy: runs like a thematic red thread through the works of many conservative thinkers. How are we to understand the relation between the two in conservative thought?