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What Is Post Modern Conservatism?

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What Is Post-Modern Conservatism: Essays On Our Hugely Tremendous Times

by T.L. Davis

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Postmodern conservatism is a political and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 20th century. It is characterized by a rejection of the Enlightenment principles of reason and progress, and a focus on the importance of tradition and community. Postmodern conservatives argue that the modern world is characterized by fragmentation and anomie, and that traditional values and institutions offer a bulwark against these forces.

Origins of Postmodern Conservatism

The origins of postmodern conservatism can be traced to the intellectual ferment of the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, a number of influential thinkers began to challenge the assumptions of modernism, which had dominated Western thought for centuries. These thinkers argued that the Enlightenment project of creating a rational and progressive world had failed, and that the modern world was instead characterized by fragmentation and chaos.

One of the most influential of these thinkers was the French philosopher Michel Foucault. Foucault argued that modern society is characterized by a network of power relations that shape our lives in subtle and often invisible ways. He argued that these power relations are not based on reason or logic, but on arbitrary and irrational forces.

Another influential thinker was the American sociologist Christopher Lasch. Lasch argued that the modern world is characterized by a loss of community and a decline in traditional values. He blamed this decline on the rise of individualism and the decline of religion.

Key Beliefs of Postmodern Conservatism

Postmodern conservatives share a number of key beliefs, including:

A rejection of the Enlightenment principles of reason and progress
A focus on the importance of tradition and community
A belief that the modern world is characterized by fragmentation and anomie
A belief that traditional values and institutions offer a bulwark against these forces

Postmodern Conservatism in Practice

Postmodern conservatism has had a significant impact on contemporary politics. In the United States, postmodern conservatives have been influential in the Republican Party, and have been instrumental in shaping the party's policies on issues such as education, immigration, and social welfare.

Postmodern conservatism has also had a significant impact on the intellectual landscape. Postmodern conservative thinkers have been influential in academia, and their ideas have been widely debated in journals and books.

Postmodern conservatism is a complex and multifaceted movement. It is a rejection of the Enlightenment principles of reason and progress, and a focus on the importance of tradition and community. Postmodern conservatives argue that the modern world is characterized by fragmentation and anomie, and that traditional values and institutions offer a bulwark against these forces.

What Is Post-Modern Conservatism: Essays On Our Hugely Tremendous Times

by T.L. Davis

4.1 out of 5