Conservatism and its Critics

Harvard FAS

What is conservatism? Is it merely a temperament or sensibility? Or is it a coherent approach to political theory and practice? Should conservatives defend free markets? Must they reject the discourse of natural rights? Can a liberal be conservative? Can a socialist? This course will explore such questions and others like them through a close reading of conservative writers and their critics. We will begin with the rise of conservatism as a…