This document discusses Oakeshott’s viewpoint on change and innovation, emphasizing conservatism as a disposition. It explores the limits and gradual nature of innovation and its application in politics, particularly in the US.
Contribute Materials
Your contribution can guide someone’s learning journey. Share your
documents today.
Runninghead: OAKESHOTT’S IDEOLOGIES OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION1 Oakeshott’s change and innovation ideologies Name Professor Course Date
Secure Best Marks with AI Grader
Need help grading? Try our AI Grader for instant feedback on your assignments.
OAKESHOTT’S IDEOLOGIES OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION2 Oakeshott’s change and innovation ideologies Oakeshott’s viewpoint of change and innovation is based on the aspect of conservatism. According to him, conservatism is not an ideology, a credo or a body of principles but rather is a disposition that involves enjoying what is already there instead of looking for something else. He observes innovation to be within the probability and knowledge limits since people rarely know what they do (Gamble, 2012). Under gradualism, innovation involves the conservative procedure where the innovator needs to prove the possibility of benefits. Thus, innovation must resemble growth and should target specific defects that need curing. It needs to be gradual so that the pace allows people to make observation on consequences and thus make adjustments. Oakeshott also sees innovation as essential, having its limits on the objectives intended. Premeditated goals regarding innovation should be controlled by rules whose stability is very important. In a conservative situation, the government puts limits by providing regulations and rules of conduct. Thus people are permitted to enjoy the aspect of making their choices (Beckstein, 2015). In this case the governmentdoes not have to bean instrument of inflaming the passions among the people. However, it needs to strive to achieve moderation.The reason is that moderation is not only a truth or virtue about peoplebut because in a pragmatic way, it involves helping people avoid being locked in a situation of mutual frustration(Vannatta, 2013). Oakeshott’s ideologies on conservatism are very much applied in politics among various nations which include the US. American conservatism is a political system that is very broad. It is characterized by its advocacy for respect on republicanism, American traditions, moral universalism, free trade, Judeo-Christian values and free markets (Fuller, 2017). Other examples include the anti-communism, American exceptionalism advocacy, individualism and the western culture defense from perceived threats that are posed by moral relativism, socialism and
OAKESHOTT’S IDEOLOGIES OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION3 authoritarianism. In these politics, liberty is an important value that puts emphasis on free market strengthening (Beckstein, 2015). Conservatism in the country considers the individual liberty as the fundamental aspect on democracy. Within the American value bounds, the perspective is contrasted to the modern liberals in the country who put a greater value on social justice and equality. There politics emphasize on the need to fight for and achieve these goals. The politics that apply Oakeshott’s ideology on conservatism involve the people having a strong belief in limiting the size and scope of the government. This is achieved through the constitution that ensures federal balance in the national and state government rights (Vannatta, 2013). There are some libertarians who tend to fight for strong action in such cases that involve the scope of the government like law and national defense enforcement. The social conservatives have opposition towards abortion and restrict lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender rights. They tend to propose a situation where all people are protected by the constitution laws while ensuring equitable service from the federal government. For instant, conservatism in the US has advocated for the need to find the aspect of racism in the country as an effort of achieving equality and equity among the citizens. This aspect explains the reason why politics in the country must involve the will of the majority provided it brings benefit to all citizens.
OAKESHOTT’S IDEOLOGIES OF CHANGE AND INNOVATION4 References Beckstein, M. (2015). What does it take to be a true conservative?.Global Discourse,5(1), 4-21. Fuller, T. (2017). The idea of the university in Newman, Oakeshott, and Strauss. InAcademic Ethics.The Southern journal of philosophy,Cambridge3(1), 17-33. Gamble, A. (2012). Oakeshott’s Ideological Politics: conservative or liberal.The Cambridge Companion to Oakeshott, 153-176. Vannatta, S. (2013). The Inner and Outer Voices of Conservative Pragmatism: CS Peirce and Michael Oakeshott.Southwest Philosophy Review,29(1), 79-87.