Thomas Frank, still wrong

by Demophilus

Everyone should read Jim Ceaser's takedown of Thomas Frank's latest shrill missive about conservative perfidy. As always, Ceaser's a delight to read -- and his tone of derision is spot on. One good turn deserves another.

This paragraph in particular caught my attention:

The conservative movement in the past 30 years has defended ideas that almost all other nations in the West are abandoning. Conservatives have stood up for the concept of the nation itself in an age when more and more are sliding vaguely into notions of "global" citizenship; they have stressed the importance of Biblical religion as a background to our culture when other nations have lauded pure secularism; and they have reminded Americans of the truth of natural right positions at a time when Western intellectuals celebrate relativism.

I say, two out of three isn't bad. Is there a middle ground between relativism and (the Straussian version of) natural right? I think so -- and believe that perhaps the most vital task for conservatives is to cultivate a public philosophy based on this third way. Call it, with Andrew Sullivan, a conservatism of doubt. Or an enlightened skepticism. Or the pursuit of intimations. Or, best of all, with St. Paul, that we see through a glass darkly -- and with R. Niebuhr, that what we call a "natural law" typically is just our rationalization and codification of the prejudices of an age.

UPDATE: Or call it postmodern conservatism.

UPDATE 2: I really didn't mean to place Sullivan in the company of St. Paul and Reinie. But you get the point.

Comments

[William Burns]

Let's see, Conservatives in power have supported NAFTA and the World Trade Organization, major dilutions of national sovereignty, American liberals spend as much time yakking about the Bible as conservatives, and the party of natural rights gave us Guantanamo Bay, the war on drugs and FISA (admittedly, with some help from liberals). Demophilus, you're too easily impressed.

[dunk shoes]

Very pleased to see a blog post, including the thoughtful and perceptive comments on set. To keep the great work!
Not everyone can provide the appropriate flow of information, thanks.

[air yeezy]

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[arizona auction]

Part of the strategy is setting a budget based on the true value of the item that's being sold at auction.