Reaction to Heywood and Kirk Readings

From Andrew Heywood's excerpt, Conservatism has been thought of as a "negative" philosophy because of the nature in which the conservative philosophy came about. Conservatism was established as an ideology that resisted constant change in economic and political policies. Because of how conservatism ideals emerged it is a reaction to change. This is negative because it allows conservative ideals to exist as a resistance to change. Conservatism is seen as a defense to change. Even those that consider themselves conservative don't like to acknowledge it as a ideology. Instead followers feel it is more an "attitude of mind" or "approach to life". Conservatism has been able to continue, in this sense, because "it has been unwilling to be tied down to a fixed system of ideas."

The conservative perspective on change varies between different types of conservatism. British conservatism believes that strict resistance to change is not the best method. Instead the British conservatives feel that change must come about when change is needed to preserve the country, the country's values, etc. On the other hand, Authoritarian conservatism either refuses change or attempts to bring the state of the country back to a better time in the past. The New Right has been seen as an attempt to balance traditions and values toward libertarianism. The New Right believes in free market economics, which distinguishes it from most other types of conservatism.

Russel Kirk's ten principles of conservatism have some similarities with the excerpt by Andrew Heywood. The fourth principle states that "conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence." Which means that conservatives judge everything by the long-term consequences. This idea can also be seen in the conservative excerpt because Heywood states that conservatives for the most part are only willing to "change in order to conserve". Both replicate the idea that conservatives would rather not change, but when necessary why their options and take their time making decisions.

Also the tenth principle of Kirk's states that a "conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society." A conservative believes that while society progresses it also declines. The excerpt states that conservatism attempts to maintain traditional beliefs and values. They believe that progress compromises other liberties and thus should be avoided when necessary. Change to a conservative is only used to preserve the existing order, not to adopt new principles.