Two Theories of Change (Paine vs. Burke)

New York Times ^ | May 24, 2010 | David Brooks

[C19fan]

When I was in college I took a course in the Enlightenment. In those days, when people spoke of the Enlightenment, they usually meant the French Enlightenment — thinkers like Descartes, Rousseau, Voltaire and Condorcet. These were philosophers who confronted a world of superstition and feudalism and sought to expose it to the clarifying light of reason. Inspired by the scientific revolution, they had great faith in the power of individual reason to detect error and logically arrive at universal truth.

[C19fan]

If it ain't Scottish it's crap, hee hee; although Burke was an Anglo-Irish.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"When I was in college I took a course in the Enlightenment."

I take it you failed Mr. Brooks because you are certainly not enlightened...

[Oratam]

Brooks argues for Burkean restraint in undoing the radicalism of the last 80 (gasp!) years. Isn’t that how all lib victories are won?

[ClearCase_guy]

Brooks discusses Burke and the British Enlightenment and covers the idea that ideas which have stood the test of time should be retained in large part (although incremental reform may be warranted). In contrast, the French Enlightenment is more eager to say that Modern ideas are always better than old ideas -- the pure light of current Reason should sweep away all of the past and constantly rebuild a newer and better world.

That does sum up a certain dichotomy we see in the modern world. However, I don't think Brooks recognizes the Ratchet Effect as described by Margaret Thatcher -- when the Left has power, they always move society to the Left. When the Right has power, they endeavor to hold the current position -- there is never any reverasal. The result is a slow and inexorable movement toward the Left over time.

Brooks actually seems to argue that, in the spirit of the British Enlightenment, we should hold on to tried and true ideas, we should build on the structure that has been bequeathed to us -- that is: Woodrow Wilson's Progressivism, FDR's New Deal, LBJ's Great Society, etc. Those wonderful old ideas from the past ought to be maintained.

I say Fie upon it. We went down the wrong road in the 20th century, and we need to Reason this out, sweep away the last 100 years of political and social reform and start building anew. Build upon a Christian worldview and upon the principles set down by the Founding Fathers. If that flies in the face of Brook's view of the British Enlightenment, so be it.