Rationalism in Politics and Other Essays - Hardcover

Oakeshott, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0865970947 ISBN 13: 9780865970946

Publisher: Liberty Fund Inc, 1991

Synopsis

Rationalism in Politics established the late Michael Oakeshott as the leading conservative political theorist in modern Britain. This expanded collection of essays astutely points out the limits of "reason" in rationalist politics and criticizes ideological schemes to reform society according to supposedly "scientific" or rationalistic principles that ignore the wealth and variety of human experience.

Timothy Fuller is Professor of Political Science at Colorado College.

About this title

Synopsis:

Rationalism in Politics, first published in 1962, has established the late Michael Oakeshott as the leading conservative political theorist in modern Britain. This expanded collection of essays astutely points out the limits of "reason" in rationalist politics. Oakeshott criticizes ideological schemes to reform society according to supposedly "scientific" or rationalistic principles that ignore the wealth and variety of human experience. "Rationalism in politics," says Oakeshott, "involves a misconception with regard to the nature of human knowledge." History has shown that it produces unexpected, often disastrous results. "Having cut himself off from the traditional knowledge of his society, and denied the value of any education more extensive than a training in a technique of analysis," the Rationalist succeeds only in undermining the institutions that hold civilized society together. In this regard, rationalism in politics is "a corruption of the mind."

About the Author:

Michael Oakeshott (1901 90) was a philosopher and a political theorist who wrote widely on the philosophy of aesthetics, education, history, law, political philosophy and religion. He is perhaps best known as a conservative political and social thinker.

About this edition

• Publisher: Liberty Fund Inc
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0865970947
• ISBN 13: 9780865970946
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 582