What Is Conservatism?What Is Conservatism? (1964) is a conservative classic—as relevant today as it was half a century ago. Just what is conservatism? Many people are groping for answers, especially as conservatives seem to be retreating into factions—Tea Partiers, traditionalists, libertarians, social conservatives, neoconservatives, and so on. But this illuminating book shows what unites conservatives even as it explores conservatism’s rich internal debate. Edited by Frank S. Meyer, who popularized the idea of “fusionism” that became the basis for modern American conservatism, What Is Conservatism? features brilliant essays by twelve leading conservative thinkers and spokesmen, including: • F. A. Hayek, Nobel Prize–winning economist and author of The Road to Serfdom • William F. Buckley Jr., founder of National Review and the man perhaps most responsible for the rise of the modern conservative movement • Russell Kirk, whose seminal book The Conservative Mind gave the conservative movement its name • M. Stanton Evans, author of the conservative movement’s central credo, the “Sharon Statement” (1960) In a foreword to this new edition, #1 New York Times bestselling author and National Review contributing editor Jonah Goldberg explains the profound influence of What Is Conservatism? on conservative thought and the book’s relevance today. |
Contents
Prescription Authority and Ordered Freedom | |
The Bill of Rights and American Freedom | |
A Conservative Case for Freedom | |
Education in Economic Liberty | |
F A Hayek | |
Stanley Parry C S C | |
Garry Wills | |
EMPIRICAL OBSERVATIONS | |
The Morality of Free Enterprise | |
William F Buckley | |
SUMMING | |
Consensus and Divergence | |
Acknowledgments | |
The Conservative Search for Identity | |
Other editions - View all
What Is Conservatism?: A New Edition of the Classic by 12 Leading Conservatives Frank S. Meyer No preview available - 2025 |
Common terms and phrases
absolute accept achieved Amendment American conservative answer anti-Federalists appeal argument Aristotle authoritarian authority basic becomes believe bill of rights Buckley Jr Burke called Christian civilization claims classical liberalism collectivism collectivist compact experience compulsion conception condition Congress conscience consensus conservatism Constitution contemporary corruption crisis democracy democratic divine doctrine economic freedom economic liberty emphasis enforce established evil existence fact Federalist Federalist Papers force gnostic Hayek human ideal ideas individual institutions intellectual J. S. Mill libertarian limited Lord Acton Madison majority man’s Max Eastman means merely mind modern moral reason National Review natural rights necessary nineteenth century norms objective person philosophical political position principles problem question ratifying reality recognize religion religious revolution Russell Kirk social socialist society statism tendencies theory things thought traditionalist transcendent true truth tyranny understanding virtue Welch Willmoore Kendall wisdom wrote