Edmund Burke

• Key Ideas

  Change happen with caution

  Tradition and Empiricism are to be respected
• Empiricism

  Knowledge that comes from real experience.
• Why did the French Revolution fail?

  They attempted to create a new society and society based on abstract ideas rather than learn from the lessons of the past.
• What did the state resemble?

  A plant that may be changed when necessary.
• Why can change occur?

  To preserve political stability and social harmony and avoid revolution.
• Reform should be:

  Limited/ Small

  Cautious

  Take account of the past

  Based on empiricism and tradition
• Revolutionary change that cuts of society's roots will lead to complete social and political breakdown.
• What are society's roots?

  Institutions e.g Church

  Customs
• Tradition and empiricism represent accumulate wisdom of the past.
• By respecting tradition and Empiricism promotes social continuity and stability.
• Each gen has duty to protect and pass on "accumulated wisdom" on to their successors.
• Tradition and Empiricism provide a sense of identity and sense of rootedness.