Conservative Thinkers from All Souls College Oxford

Conservative Thinkers from All Souls College Oxford explores the historical roots of conservative thought and its response to the radical changes that have transformed the Conservative party into a populist movement that upholds English nationalism. The book investigates the aversion to rapid and disruptive change, mistrust of majority opinions, appreciation of community loyalties, and pride in assertive individualism. It also examines the recession of the Church of England and the impact of militarism. The book draws on the ideas of two conservative thinkers, Trimmer Halifax and Michael Oakeshott, to examine the conservative assumptions, ideas, writings, and influence of seven Fellows of All Souls from the last century. These Fellows viewed popular democracy as an unavoidable necessity that must be managed rather than loved, and their skepticism about the rule of the people was rooted in a meritocratic commitment to the government of the wise. They disliked plutocracy, regretted consumerism, and loathed sloppy and self-serving thought.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

All Souls College Oxford was one of the meeting points of English public intellectuals in the twentieth century. Its Fellows prided themselves on agreeing in everything except their opinions. They included Cabinet Ministers from all the three major parties, and academics of diverse political allegiances, who met for frank conversations and lively disagreements. Davenport-Hines investigates historic strands of conservative thought: aversion to rapid and disruptive change, mistrust of majority opinions, prizing of community loyalties and pride over the assertion of aggressive individualism, the recession of the Church of England, and the impact of militarism. Conservative Thinkers from All Souls College Oxford draws on the ideas of two conservative thinkers, Trimmer Halifax and Michael Oakeshott, to examine the conservative assumptions, ideas, writings, and influence of seven Fellows of All Souls from the last century. Their brands of conservatism regarded popular democracy as an unavoidable necessity which must be managed rather than loved. Their scepticism about the rule of the people was rooted in a meritocratic commitment to the government of the wise. They disliked plutocracy, regretted consumerism, and loathed sloppy and self-serving thought. All were more or less dissatisfied with the workings of the Westminster parliamentary model.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783277452