Conservative Liberals and Traditional Conservatives
(I think this post is relevant to the mission of RP, but if not, feel free to let me know...)
In her contribution to the Radical Orthodoxy series -- Culture and the Thomist Tradition: After Vatican II -- Tracey Rowland turns to Alasdair MacIntyre for her critique of liberalism. At one point, she refers to MacIntyre's assertion that the dominant political perspectives of our time are all liberal, whether radically liberal, liberally liberal, or conservatively liberal. From the other reading in RO that I've done to this point, that seems to be a perspective whole-heartedly agreed upon by virtually everyone "in" or associated with RO.
More recently, I had occasion to read Mark Henrie's essay "Understanding Traditionalist Conservatism" in the New Pantagruel, which distinguishes much of what passes for "conservatism" today from the conservatism of, for example, Russell Kirk.
Which leads me to my question for other posters and commenters here at RP: how compatible is Henrie & Kirk's conservatism with the RO project? Or: would it be correct to say that H&K's conservatism is not conservative liberalism as described by MacIntyre et al.?
I'm also very curious about the socialism which at least some RO proponents (e.g. JKA Smith) say is part of the overall project, but that'll have to wait for another post. :-)
In her contribution to the Radical Orthodoxy series -- Culture and the Thomist Tradition: After Vatican II -- Tracey Rowland turns to Alasdair MacIntyre for her critique of liberalism. At one point, she refers to MacIntyre's assertion that the dominant political perspectives of our time are all liberal, whether radically liberal, liberally liberal, or conservatively liberal. From the other reading in RO that I've done to this point, that seems to be a perspective whole-heartedly agreed upon by virtually everyone "in" or associated with RO.
More recently, I had occasion to read Mark Henrie's essay "Understanding Traditionalist Conservatism" in the New Pantagruel, which distinguishes much of what passes for "conservatism" today from the conservatism of, for example, Russell Kirk.
Which leads me to my question for other posters and commenters here at RP: how compatible is Henrie & Kirk's conservatism with the RO project? Or: would it be correct to say that H&K's conservatism is not conservative liberalism as described by MacIntyre et al.?
I'm also very curious about the socialism which at least some RO proponents (e.g. JKA Smith) say is part of the overall project, but that'll have to wait for another post. :-)
posted by Unknown | 8:21 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks Chris for the issues raised in your post.
I've been wanting to read Rowland's book for some time. I'm looking forward to the article that you refer to.
Every RO writer I can thik of would agree with MacIntyre's assessment. In fact, in Theology and Social Theory, Milbank charges that MacIntyre did not go far enough, that his work is a further radicalization of MacIntyre.
In recent years, particularly the end of Being Reconciled, Milbank drifts towards a Christian socialism. As you would expect, this transcends the ordinary socialist label as it rejects completely the secular utopian vision of Marxism. Personally, I drift away from RO at this point. I would be more prone to follow Chesterton's communitarian vision.
Grace and Peace,
Scott
off topic, but you guys are discussing some great books and thought. I'm sorry I haven't check in soon.
great work.
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