The philosophy, politics and religion of British democracy : Maurice Cowling and Conservatism

Maurice Cowling was one of the most controversial historians and thinkers of the last 40 years and a key figure in modern British Conservatism. His work on intellectual and political history assaulted conventional understanding of the political process and challenged the liberal and secular ideas which have been so pervasive in modern Britain. Here, leading scholars disclose Cowling’s vision of British democracy and place it in its broader intellectual context. This book therefore provides a powerful multi-disciplinary explanation of Conservative thought about public life in modern Britain, and sheds light upon the interface between philosophy, politics, religion and British democracy. Maurice Cowling was one of the most controversial historians and thinkers of the last 40 years and a key figure in modern British Conservatism. His work on intellectual and political history challenged conventional understanding of the political process and the liberal and secular ideas which have been so pervasive in modern Britain. Here leading scholars disclose Cowling's vision of British democracy and place it within its broader intellectual context. Cowling's work assaulted conventional assumptions about modern thought and stressed the value of a specifically Conservative approach for understanding past and contemporary predicaments. His writings on political history challenged existing understandings of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and delineated the motivations and power of the political elite. His studies in intellectual history constructed a bold critique of modern liberalism and highlighted the enduring importance of Christianity in British society. Robert Crowcroft, S.J.D. Green and Richard Whiting here bring together perspectives from religion, philosophy and politics to focus on Cowling's work and its context, looking at the connection between Cowling and the leading Conservative philosopher Michael Oakeshott, the impact of Cowling's ideas about the nature of politics and the way they are reported through journalism, and the relationship between Conservatism and Liberalism. They consider Cowling's views on the scope of historical understandings and whether the tools most frequently used to understand political activity are the most valuable for doing so. Further, they evaluate the place of Christianity in social thought and how Cowling's Conservative ideas might inform future patterns of thought. This book therefore provides a powerful multi-disciplinary explanation of Conservative thought about public life in modern Britain, and sheds light upon the interface between philosophy, politics, religion and British democracy. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 Introduction: The Significance of Cowling -- Robert Crowcroft, S. J. D. Green and Richard Whiting......Page 10 1. Maurice Cowling: A Brief Life -- Jonathan Parry......Page 22 PART I - THE PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY......Page 34 2. Liberalism, Conservatism and Oakeshott in Cowling’s Account of Public Doctrine -- Kenneth Minogue......Page 36 3. Subjectivity, Civility, Ecclesiasticality -- James Alexander......Page 51 4. Cowling and Liberalism -- Michael Grenfell......Page 74 PART II - THE PRACTICE OF POLITICAL HISTORY......Page 92 5. Herbert Butterfield and Maurice Cowling -- Michael Bentley......Page 94 6. Maurice Cowling and Modern British Political History -- Philip Williamson......Page 117 7. ‘High Politics’, Political Practice and the Labour Party -- Robert Crowcroft......Page 162 PART III - RELIGION IN THE AGE OF SECULARIZATION......Page 196 8. As if Religion Mattered: An Alternative Reading of English Intellectual History since c.1840 -- S. J. D. Green......Page 198 9. The Anglican Mind of Maurice Cowling -- Ian Harris......Page 232 10. Conclusion: The Impact of Cowling -- Robert Crowcroft, S. J. D. Green, Richard Whiting......Page 279 Bibliography......Page 306 Notes on Contributors......Page 326 Index......Page 328 Robert Crowcroft, S. J. D. Green and Richard Whiting here bring together perspectives from religion, philosophy and politics to focus on Cowling's work and its context, looking at the connection between Cowling and the leading Conservative philosopher Michael Oakeshott, the impact of Cowling's ideas about the nature of politics and the way they are reported through journalism, and the relationship between Conservatism and Liberalism. They consider Cowling's views on the scope of historical understanding and whether the tools most frequently used to understand political activity are the most appropriate for doing so. Further, they evaluate the place of Christianity in social thought and how Cowling's Conservative ideas might inform future patterns of thinking Cowling's work assaulted conventional assumptions about modern thought and stressed the value of a specifically Conservative approach for understanding past problems and contemporary predicaments. His writings on political history challenged existing understandings of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and delineated the motivations and power of the political elite. His studies in intellectual history constructed a bold critique of modern liberalism and highlighted the enduring importance of Christianity in British society Maurice Cowling was one of the most controversial historians and thinkers of the last 50 years and a key figure in modern British Conservatism. His work on intellectual and political history challenged conventional understanding of the political process and those liberal and secular ideas so pervasive in modern Britain. Here leading scholars disclose Cowling's vision of British democracy and place it within its broader intellectual context In this compelling and thoughtful analysis of the Labour parties of Britain and Norway, David Redvaldsen offers an insight into the successes and failures of these two parties as they faced the challenges of the economic and political situation of the interwar era and their relentless pursuit of power This book provides a powerful multi-disciplinary explanation of Conservative thought about public life in modern Britain, and sheds light upon the interface between philosophy, politics, religion and British democracy. --Book Jacket Maurice Cowling was one of the most controversial historians and thinkers and a key figure in modern British Conservatism. This book presents Cowling's vision of British democracy and places it in its broader intellectual context.