On The Political Thought Of Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke is regarded as the founder of conservatism and he is one of the most famous England political philosophers in the eighteenth century. At that time in the west, the capitalism economy preliminary had developed; the bourgeoisie strength unceasingly expanded; so the democracy became the political objective which the people pursued. After the French Revolution, Burke animadverted that the revolution had disrupted the society and destroyed the tradition. Therefore, he became a speaker of advocating freedom and vindicating traditional political system.He absorbs and inherits about the right theory and contract political ideas of Hobbes Locke and Rousseau. Integrating his respect of freedom and tradition, Burke establishes the conservatism with English characteristic. His political theory mainly includes the Conservatism thought, government view, the tradition idea, freedom view, nationalism and religious view. These ideas are combined with each other and formed a system-info. Burke mentions three essential qualifications for the manager of government in his government view: ability; property, and high birth, which make up his politics conservative manifestation. He advocates tradition; loves liberty heartily; advocates that liberty roots in tradition, as well as liberty and order pay equal attention. He doesn't oppose transform, but advocates that changes in society should advance gradually in due order. He pays much attention to monocracy as well as civil virtue, and claims that the society should be ruled morally and governmentally. These conceptions include much valuable factors, which are worth studying. But, we could easily find out the limitation in his conceptions. For example, he vindicates hierarchy and hereditary right; he holds his prejudice to French Revolution. Burke initiates the political conception of conservatism, which coordinates with liberalism and socialism are regarded as the important genre in the modern west. Burke's political theory has significantly influenced the political produces of England and the political practice of French, German and USA simultaneously. Burke's political theory also could be used for reference to the innovation of China's political culture. It means we extract and develop the essential or reasonable parts of their theory in the direction of Marxism.In China, although scholars research on Burke's political conception a bit later, they have achieved much scholarship in this field. Conservatism influences political ideas and practice in China more or less. This article tries to profit from the reasonable factors of his theory, and put them into our political practice. At the same time, we also must realize clearly the limitation of Burke's political ideology.