Conservatism in political philosophy of Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke is one of the founding figures of conservative thought. The aim of this study is to reveal that Edmund Burke's political thought has very different and original elements that differ from status quo and a reactive approach that is generally ascribed to conservative thought that is usually understood to be opposing change altogether, thus to argue that his views on natural right, ownership, liberty and democracy are still able to contribute to contemporary political debates shaped by a critique of modernity. It was argued that the realization of this goal is only possible when the political understanding of Burke was first put into a basic discussion frame on the Enlightenment period. Accordingly, before evaluating Burke's political philosophy through Hume's critique of intellect and Rousseau's critique of Enlightenment, the epistemological foundations of his understanding of politics were elucidated and how this approach led him to a pathos-based policy conception is tried to show. Finally, based on a discussion of Burke's Reflections on Revolution in France, it is argued that, in accordance with the critiques of Enlightenment, he presents practical, viable and tangible changes as solutions to political problems. Thus, in a concise way, it is argued that %XUNH¶V original political thoughts and conservative approach have a lot to offer to contemporary political debates.