Reflections of the Past

Edmund Burke is considered one of the most influential intellectuals, best known for criticising the French revolution in his 1790 publication, “Reflections on the Revolution in France.” It is a book that has been the topic of a variety of debates and disagreements, but has always had the distinction of being able to influence a number of different groups, including the classic liberal. The text criticizes the French revolution on a number of different principles.

One of Burkes main problems with the revolution is that the revolutionary leaders attempted to change the entirety of Frances political system overnight rather than take it gradually and change things one by one. He claims that the New France has little chance of succeeding (230) because of what he sees as impulsive. He also states that, innovation is not reform, which also requires reflection (119). He compares this to the view the philosophers, where the approach lacked realism during a time when abstractness could be fatal. The complete abolition of the entire political system in 1789 ended with an immense amount of confusion during transformation. The prior political system, Feudalism, was declared void and so the entirety of the governmental institutions was dissolved. This includes the army, the local government, the judicial system and the clergy. This all relates to the political ideology of the philosophers, which held that a revolution was good at destruction, but not so good at the rebuilding process.

Though it is debateable if Burkes critique of the revolution was right or wrong, the even did stimulate him to devise his political ideology. His ability to insinuate logical points of politics makes this a rather important book. The main idea behind this ...

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...ore spectacle rather then substance (283), which isn’t what France needs. Instead there is a national assembly that Burke states isn’t qualified to form a government and which will eventually become more extreme (374).

In Burkes opinion, France made a lot of mistakes when they revolted against their king and country. For society to be liberty it requires wisdom, which then requires virtue (373), both which Burke believes the France are missing. He ends his book commending Britian “on the basis of longstanding existence and reforms” (375) or the ability to gradually change the country for the better, much more so because many of the past reforms were an attempt to recover past privileges and traditions, which are positive. Regardless of how one feels about the French Revolution, “Reflections on the Revolution in France” is a book that is still an important read.