CONSERVATIVE DATABASE

The gdoc version can be found here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_gVih67ekXCjcFVwII90L9HXq0Wtz2kT96Mjl1RJli8/edit

 

I. What is Western Conservatism

• Defining Conservatism

ARTICLES

•  What  is Conservatism 

• The Moral Roots of liberals and Conservatives, by Jonathan Haidt 

• Why it’s much harder to think like a Conservative, by Roger Scruto​

• Ten Conservative Principles, by Russel Kirk 

• The Six Core beliefs of Conservatism, by Russel Kirk 

• The Ten Principles that should form the foundation of a modern Conservative Policy, by Roger Scruton 

  

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II. Philosophers/theologians who inspired Conservative European thought before the French revolution (Aristotle, Aquinas, Agustine, etc)

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 ARTICLES/ VIDEOS

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• Aristotle: 

i Who is Aristotle? , Aristotle

ii. “Man is a Political Animal”: The Method of Aristotle’s Politics 

iii. Is Contemporary Conservative Political Philosophy Based on The Aristotelian Concept of Phronesis possible? http://real.mtak.hu/8036/7/Re%C3%A1lMFSZ_2013_4_tordelt.pdf 

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• Aquinas

i. Explaining Aquinas’ Five Proofs by Matt Frad

ii. Aquinas v Dawkins on God’s Existence by Matt Frad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N9IPxWb_gA

i. The Summa Theologica 

ii. Thomas Aquinas: Political Philosophy: https://www.iep.utm.edu/aqui-pol/

iii. Why America Need Thomas Aquinas Now, by Casey Chalk:

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• Agustine 

i. City of God

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• Thomas More 

i. Utopia 

VIDEO:

A Defense of Classical Theology part 1: The New Atheism and the Cosmological arguments: Mathoma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx9gLvLYF5s

Defense of Classical Theology part 2: God is not a god: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_FEDEBbZT4

Defense of Classical Theology part 3: A critique of Scientism and naturalism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhR77luOETU

Defense of Classical Theology part 4: Metaphysics, being, and analogy of being: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMV9QU-XzLM

Defense of Classical Theology part 5: Change and the Act-Potency Distinction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVaNS4muh4k

Defense of Classical Theology part 6: The Argument from Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bevBRz5Dpn8

Defense of Classical Theology part 7: The Argument from Cosmoposition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft7J1Mv-0fI

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III. Conservatism as a response to the French revolution  (talk about how the French revolution forced conservatism to become reactionary) 

ARTICLES

Conservatism (the article gives a brief history of Conservatism) https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism/General-characteristics

BOOKS:

• The Works of Joseph De Maistre in English Translation: http://maistre.uni.cx/ 

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1. Philosophers/theologians who inspired Conservative European thought after the French revolution (Burke, Kirk, etc) 

• Burke, The Intellectual roots of Conservatism https://www.britannica.com/topic/conservatism/Conservatism-in-the-19th-century

• Reflections of The Revolution in France, Edmund Burke https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/burke/revfrance.pdf

1. How conservatism sold it’s soul for profit

• How the modern American conservative movement has been highjacked by neo liberals and Libertarians 

BOOKS

• Ship of Fools by Tucker Carlson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Fools_(book) 

 

VIDEO

• How Evangelicals became Republicans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpLCIc5PvQw

• The decline of the modern European conservative movement 

BOOKS

• The Strange Death of Europe, by Douglas Murray: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strange_Death_of_Europe

• The Phoney Victory, by Peter Hitchens: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phoney-Victory-World-War-Illusion/dp/1788313291

• Roger Scruton

BOOKS

• The Meaning of Conservatism, by Roger Scruton https://www.roger-scruton.com/articles/330-the-meaning-of-conservatism

• Conservatism, an Invitation to the Great Tradition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism:_An_Invitation_to_the_Great_Tradition

• Different philosophical articles inspired by Roger Scruton by different authors: https://cosmosandtaxis.org/ct-634/?fbclid=IwAR2kx3y_m6GY53gcjT9YKeuizXM31Af-fNHPzw2Kdp5HHTCUlTiyun0BvQQ

• GK Chesterton

• Assorted works: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/80 

• Collection of works: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Society-Politics-Usurers-Chesterton/dp/0898701708

• The Napolean of Nottinghill (this was the book that allegedly inspired Michael Collins to fight for Irish independence, make of it what you will): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/20058/20058-h/20058-h.htm 

• The outline of Sanity: (text) http://www.gkc.org.uk/gkc/books/Sanity.txt (article regarding the book by Peter Chojnowski) https://distributistreview.com/archive/the-outline-of-sanity-2

• Utopia of Usurers: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2134

 

IV. Economics (include here different kinds of economic theories not incompatible with conservatism, such as distributism 

ARTICLES:

• The Return of Conservative Economics: https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/02/the-return-of-conservative-economics/

VIDEO:

•  What is distributism? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=425-VC6BJ2w

• A Gentleman’s Debate: Distributism vs. Free-Markets (Joseph Pearce & Jay Richards - Acton Institute): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EgAXvkb4RE

• Lecture: Justice Antonin Scalia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkChru9L3xA

BOOKS

• Capitalism and Freedom, by Milton Friedman:https://www.amazon.com/Capitalism-Freedom-Anniversary-Milton-Friedman/dp/0226264211

• The Servile State by Hillaire Belloc: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/148506.The_Servile_State

• The Church and The Libertarian, by Christopher Ferrer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9750347-the-church-and-the-libertarian

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V. Issues we are currently facing in modern times and the conservative solution (And I don’t mean liberal ideology as the issue, although it is an issue in itself. We have enough reactionaries, I think, as it is, to counter liberalism. What I would like are current issues we are facing in the world today; environmental problems, consumerism, racism etc. and the conservative solutions to these problems! The left are very good at spotting problems but do have atrocious solutions to them, partly due to their worldview. I think Conservatives can learn from the left in that the left always seeks to improve and sees the flaws in the system, but what we can offer is the correct solutions due to having the correct principles.) 

• THE ENVIRONMENT

• Conservative Principles for environmental reforms: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1180&context=faculty_publications

• RACISM:

• NOTE: this study talks about why conservatives usually feel the way they do. It is not a solution to racism, but I think an interesting read for Conservatives to better understand where perhaps we can do better in some aspects. Conservatism and fairness in contemporary politics: Unpacking the psychological underpinnings of modern racism by Riley K Carney: https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/renos/files/carneyenos.pdf

• Racism, Inclusion, and Diversity:

https://www.cctwincities.org/education-advocacy/catholic-social-teaching/notable-quotations/racism-inclusion-and-diversity/ 

• INCOME INEQUALITY

• Income Inequality needs a conservative solution by Nathan Lewis: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nathanlewis/2019/04/26/income-inequality-needs-a-conservative-solution/#d5a6f0415093

• No Friend of the Poor by Edwin Feulner: https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/commentary/no-friend-the-poor

1. Why Conservatism is the better solution to these problems as opposed to the left 

BOOKS: Fools, Frauds, and Firebrands: Thinkers of the New left: https://www.amazon.com/Fools-Frauds-Firebrands-Thinkers-Left/dp/1472935950

1. How to get involved (What annoys me greatly about the conservative movement now is that it seems now to be focused on making podcasters and reactionaries.  Which is fine, I suppose, but I think we should also be focused on action! What can we do to make changes in our community using conservative principles. Do you believe that we have the right to own guns, and that gun deaths are due to mentally ill people? Then what can we do to bring awareness regarding mental illness and how can we help!  In essence, how can we put out beliefs into practice!)

• Reclaim conservatism from Libertarians!Join  https://americancompass.org/about/

• Pro-life groups (the non-religious groups have an *): https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/prolife-organizations-9557

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