Sir Roger Scruton: How to Be a Conservative
1,510,735
Published 2017-07-19
In the latest episode from Uncommon Knowledge, Sir Roger Scruton, a formally trained political philosopher, talks about his life and the events he’s witnessed that led him to conservatism. He first embraced conservatism after witnessing the leftist student protests in France in May 1968. During the ensuing riots in Paris, more than three hundred people were injured. Scruton walked away from this event with a change in worldview and a strong leaning toward conservatism. Visits to communist- controlled Poland and Czechoslovakia in 1979 cemented his preference for conservatism and his distaste for the fraud of communism and socialism, initiating a desire to do something about it. From thereon he dedicated himself to helping organize underground seminars for the young people oppressed behind the iron curtain.
Sir Roger examines a brief history of conservatism in the twentieth century of England in regard to Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. Although he appreciates what Margaret Thatcher stood for, he argues that she had many conservative ideals but never used the conservative framework to organize her overall political strategy. Instead she organized around market economics, which was not always effective in the social, cultural, and legal areas. Peter Robinson argues that Winston Churchill did a much better job of organizing around conservative ideals but eventually lost an election because he didn’t have the vocabulary or the focus on free markets. They discuss the tenuous relationship between free markets and conservative ideals that have not mixed well together in British politics.
Robinson and Sir Roger discuss the 2016 political upset of Brexit in the United Kingdom and how the political analysts failed to predict the vote outcome, much like what happened in November 2016 in the United States. They deliberate how the issues around immigration from Eastern Europe to the United Kingdom contributed to Brexit, in addition to general dissatisfaction with the European Union. Thus, in the cases of both the United Kingdom and the United States, the media and intellectuals ignored the will of the “indigenous working classes” who made their voices known through their votes.
About the Guest: Sir Roger Scruton
Sir Roger Scruton is an English writer and philosopher who has published more than fifty books in philosophy, aesthetics, and politics. His book discussed in this episode was How to Be a Conservative; it was published in 2014. He is a fellow of the British Academy and a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He teaches in both England and America and is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington. DC. He is currently teaching an MA in philosophy course for the University of Buckingham. Sir Scruton was knighted in 2016 by Queen Elizabeth II for his “services to philosophy, teaching and public education.”
Additional Resources:
Brexit:
www.hoover.org/news/hoover-fellows-weigh-brexit
www.hoover.org/research/brussels-gets-brexit-wrong…
www.hoover.org/research/gibraltar-braces-life-afte…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/07/ball…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/22/year…
www.hoover.org/research/will-brexit-break-special-…
Margaret Thatcher:
www.hoover.org/profiles/margaret-thatcher
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatche…
www.hoover.org/research/thatcherism-after-thatcher
www.wnd.com/2013/04/ed-meese-thatcher-inspired-rea…
0055d26.netsolhost.com/libertarian/20130410.mp3
Conservatism:
www.hoover.org/news/political-economy-workshop-dis…
blindspotpodcast.com/2017/05/23/health-care-immigr…
www.hoover.org/events/conservatism-and-executive-p…
www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/01/22/in_t…
Immigration:
www.hoover.org/perspective-decision-2016/immigrati…
For the full transcript go to
www.hoover.org/research/how-be-conservative
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All Comments (21)
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I just found out! He died on January 12, 2020. I found this “talk” back in July of 2019! Such an amazing man! I looked up to him. He was able to influence this young Mexican! Gosh! I am going to cry! But I thank God for his life!
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Sir Roger Scruton - a man with guts and humility. RIP.
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If you cannot exclude people from your property in what sense is it yours?
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Last question: "Even England isn't the Shire anymore"... Isn't it strange that everybody wants to live in the Shire, but it is Mordor that's being built. How about striving towards the Shire?
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This man is my new hero. I have never heard conservatism and basic common sense put so eloquently and directly.
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The interviewer is very good at his job. He asks valid questions in a personable format using examples and quotes from this mans book. An absolute rarity, you get much more ideas and information this way. Spot on.
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"I've never in my life been hopeful. I take the view that pessimism is the wise position to adopt because you are always agreeably surprised." - Dr. Roger Scruton (43:45) / I just love the way that this guy thinks.
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Scruton is excellent as always. But also the interviewer deserves kudos. Exceptional and articulate thinker, too. Would there were more like him.
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What a treat! I've just discovered Scruton and have been binge-consuming his content.
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It is so very refreshing to listen to an intelligent person speak. The world needs many, many more Roger Scrutons!
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It's not racist to be proud of your heritage and to want to preserve it and your people. Despite what the media tells you...Nationalism is not racism. The west is missing this... Don't take your heritage for granted... Different people bring different cultures, don't expect foreigners to preserve your peoples culture and traditions.
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Remarkable whose seeing this in 2020...and say wow.. everything he has said is coming to true
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I love this guy, also it doesn't hurt that he kinda looks like David Bowies older philosopher brother.
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Perhaps the greatest conservative intellectual of our time
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I Love Scruton!
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How wonderful! Two of my favourite men, speaking intelligently about something truly important.
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One of the greatest thinker this country has ever produced. So proud ho have him ❤️🇬🇧
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I like the bit at the end where Scruton talks about nostalgia being underrated. Surely this nostalgia is part of our identity and what keeps a model in our minds for the right way things should be.
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Scruton is learned, wise and brilliant - a rare combination. And there is nothing that he says here that can be honestly and successfully contradicted. Which really...says it all.
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spoken like a true intellectual... Sir, you are a scholar and a gentleman.
