Publisher's Synopsis
An examination of conservative doctrine as applied to the pressing political and social problems of our time. Torbjorn Tannsjo argues that conservatism no longer necessarily has any neat alignment with right-wing politics, and that the political right has no exclusive claim to conservative thought. Many political problems now facing us fall outside the traditional political spectrum, notably issues to do with the environment and nuclear power, where green attitudes are in a sense conservative ones. Tannsjo defines the concept of conservatism in terms of two tenets: one, whatever exists as a well-established fact ought to continue to exist; and two, the reason it ought to continue to exist is that it is well-established. Tannsjo distinguishes and clarifies general conservative positions, and looks critically at classical and modern arguments such as those put forward by Burke, Hume, Oakeshott, and Scruton. Applying his conclusions to practical matters, he considers the relevance of conservative arguments to current political and social problems such as nuclear policy, genetic engineering and real socialism.
