Your Politics Guide

Michael Oakeshott (1901-1990) was a leading conservative philosopher. He was known for his defence of pragmatism, tradition, and scepticism towards rationalist politics.

Pragmatism: Oakeshott argued that politics should be based on practical experience and tradition, not abstract theories or grand plans.
Critique of Rationalism: He warned against attempts to redesign society using reason alone, believing such efforts ignore the complexity of human life. This is an example of human imperfection, people cannot fully understand all the complexities of society, so to attempt a redesign using reason alone is misguided.
Tradition: Oakeshott saw tradition as a guide for action. It provides wisdom that has been accumulated over generations. If it works, don't fix it.
Incremental Change: He favoured gradual, cautious reform rather than radical change.
Politics as Conversation: Politics is an ongoing dialogue, not a quest for final solutions. Don't try to impose a perfect system.

Oakeshott's work shaped modern conservative thought, especially the emphasis on pragmatism and scepticism towards having strong attachment to ideology.
He influenced politicians and thinkers who value tradition and incremental change. For example, Margaret Thatcher drew on his ideas about pragmatism in her approach to governance.
His ideas remain central to debates about the role of reason and experience in politics.

On Being Conservative (1956) - Oakeshott's essay on the conservative disposition.
Rationalism in Politics (1962) - Critique of rationalist approaches to politics with defence of tradition.

Michael Oakeshott

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