In Defence of Modernity: The Social Thought of Michael Oakeshott

by Efraim Podoksik

Overview

Although Oakeshott s philosophy has received considerable attention, the vision which underlies it has been almost completely ignored. This vision, which is rooted in the intellectual debates of his epoch, cements his ideas into a coherent whole and provides a compelling defence of modernity.The main feature of Oakeshott s vision of modernity is seen here as radical plurality resulting from fragmentation of experience and society. On the level of experience, modernity denies the existence of the hierarchical medieval scheme and argues that there exist independent ways of understanding our world, such as science and history, which cannot be reduced to each other. On the level of society, modernity finds expression in liberal doctrine, according to which society is an aggregate of individuals each pursuing his or her own choices. For Oakeshott, to be modern means not only to recognise this condition of radical plurality but also to learn to appreciate and enjoy it.Oakeshott did not think that it was possible to find a comprehensive philosophical justification for modernity, therefore the only way to preserve modern civilisation seemed to be an appeal to sentiment. As a consequence he was a passionate defender of liberal education as the best way to underwrite the conversation of mankind. "

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780907845669
Publisher:	Imprint Academic (Ips)
Publication date:	09/01/2003
Series:	British Idealist Studies, Series 1: Oakeshott
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	5.96(w) x 8.62(h) x 0.94(d)

Editorial Reviews

"A full and highly engaging account... a genuinely rich treatment which, in addition to its own merits as a serious and original interpretation, is guarenteed to return readers to the work of Oakshott himself."

The European Legacy - Richard Bourke