Darwinian Conservatism

by Larry Arnhart

Overview

The Left has traditionally assumed that human nature is so malleable, so perfectible, that it can be shaped in almost any direction. Conservatives object, arguing that social order arises not from rational planning but from the spontaneous order of instincts and habits. Darwinian biology sustains conservative social thought by showing how the human capacity for spontaneous order arises from social instincts and a moral sense shaped by natural selection in human evolutionary history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780907845997
Publisher:	Imprint Academic (Ips)
Publication date:	08/01/2005
Series:	Societas , #18
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	5.36(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.39(d)

About the Author

Arnhart is Professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University.

Editorial Reviews

"This outstanding Societas essay is strongly recommended."

Salisbury Review - David Ashton

"The argument is conscientious, documented, and timely. Whether this excellent work will convince many conservatives is a different question."

New Criterion - John Gross

"This book should be welcomed by those who are concerned with the social and political ramifications of the theory of evolution."

Philosophical Books - Allen Thompson

"Darwinian Conservatism... is a work marked by clarity of purpose, prose, and argument that one rarely finds in academic writing... Arnhart's project to offer a Darwinian account of conservative political philosophy should be taken seriously. Conservative critics of Darwin ignore Arnhart at their own peril."

The Review of Politics - Francis Beckwith

"There is much to be said in defense of both the realist view of the human being and the biological basis of human conduct and society. Arnhart takes up these important issues in a judicious and informed manner, and his delivery is intelligent, careful, and devoid of posturing or special pleading."

The European Legacy - Eugene Heath

"A well argued book... Of special interest will be the author's discussion of Darwinism and religion."

Network

"Morality, aid to others, political freedom and the rest can be perfectly well defended from a Darwinian perspective; Arnhart has done a very good job of doing so."

Reports of the National Center of Science Education - Timothy Sandefur

"Arnhart's thesis, which he proves abundantly, is that the constraints of our biological nature explode the most persistent delusions of the Left... consequently a Darwinian politics is a largely conservative politics... Arnhart is to be commended for producing an excellent book about conservative thought."

Right Now! - Antony Flew

"Arnhart succeeds in his limited goal of demonstrating that Darwinian theory, properly understood, supports conservative social and political ideas while discrediting leftist utopianism."

Weekly Standard - James Seaton

"Arnhart's book is a sustained and impressive attempt to give a Darwinian underpinning to conservative social thought."

Australian Journal of Politics and History - Paul Crook