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What Conservatism Really Means - Roger Scruton in Conversation with Hamza Yusuf

Renovatio: The Journal of Zaytuna College・2 minutes read

Intellectual conservatives are concerned about conservatism being reduced to merely an economic concept, overshadowing moral and spiritual values they hold dear, struggling to articulate their beliefs in a left-leaning world that emphasizes power and systematic solutions. The text also delves into the importance of conserving cultural inheritances like grammar and manners, highlighting the need for balance between discipline and freedom, and efforts to preserve civilizational traditions in the face of decline.

Insights

  • Intellectual conservatives are concerned that conservatism in the US is being reduced to purely economic terms, overshadowing moral and spiritual values they hold dear.
  • The importance of conserving cultural inheritances like grammar, manners, and language, as they carry wisdom and history, aiding in communication and preserving heritage, is crucial for navigating the world and society.

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Recent questions

  • Why do intellectual conservatives worry about conservatism in the US?

    Intellectual conservatives fear reduction of conservatism to economics.

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Summary

00:00

Conservatism's Struggle Against Economic Dominance

  • Intellectual conservatives worry about the reduction of conservatism to an economic concept in the United States.
  • Politicians tend to frame policies in economic terms, overshadowing the moral and spiritual aspects conservatives value.
  • The dominance of economic language damages the conservative position by neglecting non-economic values.
  • Berkeley, despite its high education levels, is predominantly liberal, leading to a perception that conservatism and intellectualism are incompatible.
  • Intellectual conservatives struggle to articulate their beliefs in a world where left-leaning ideologies offer systematic solutions.
  • The negative approach of the left, focused on rectifying wrongs through power, can lead to destructive outcomes once power is seized.
  • The postmodern focus on power in intellectual discourse can hinder genuine engagement and truth-seeking.
  • The corporate world's hegemony has led to the decline of small bookstores and a homogenization of book selections.
  • Conservatives must address serious critiques of the status quo to avoid perpetuating negativity.
  • Language conservation is crucial as it carries the wisdom and history of generations, aiding in communication and preserving cultural heritage.

17:58

"Grammar's Role in Cultural Preservation and Education"

  • The Quran is considered by many Muslims to be untranslatable due to its unique perfection and the oral tradition preceding its written form.
  • The King James Bible, despite its unorthodox grammar, has had a significant impact on literature and oratory, including influencing figures like Abraham Lincoln.
  • The decline of the King James Bible's usage in churches, replaced by the New English Bible, reflects broader shifts in educational focus away from grammar.
  • The importance of teaching grammar, highlighted by the difficulty in learning languages like Arabic without a solid foundation in grammar.
  • Concerns over the removal of grammar education in the 1960s in the US and its impact on students' literacy and understanding of complex sentences.
  • The significance of conserving cultural inheritances like grammar, good speech, and manners as fundamental to navigating the world and society.
  • Instances of resistance to teaching proper grammar, with some viewing it as discriminatory, particularly affecting minority and disadvantaged groups.
  • The loss of teaching methods aimed at uplifting students to meet educational standards, contrasting with modern approaches that lower standards to accommodate students.
  • The importance of courtesy and decorum in society, with manners being highlighted as a key aspect of cultural decline.
  • The need for a balance between Dionysian and Apollonian impulses in culture, emphasizing the importance of discipline and structure for true freedom and joy.

34:58

"Reviving Hope: Love, Tradition, and Civilization"

  • In traditional cultures, hope is considered essential, akin to faith, openness, and charity.
  • Different types of love exist, with distinctions between agape, eros, and others.
  • Arabs recognize ten types of love, with the highest being cuddler and the lowest being ish, related to desire.
  • The concept of the wheel of fortune, with corresponding emotions like despair, hope, joy, and fear, is discussed.
  • In Islamic tradition, getting into the hub is a way to escape the wheel of fortune.
  • Responses to civilization crises include acceptance, zealotry, and preservation of civilization's best aspects.
  • The importance of reviving and preserving the civilizational traditions of Islam and the West is highlighted.
  • The decline of Islamic civilization is attributed to factors like despotism and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
  • Efforts to renovate and renew Islamic civilization, like the journal Renovatio, are mentioned.
  • The importance of conserving the best aspects of the past while acknowledging the need for change and progress is emphasized.

51:59

Gratitude for Renovatio support and hope

  • The speaker expresses gratitude for the support received for their work with the journal Renovatio.
  • They hope that readers will benefit from the journal.
  • The speaker mentions Cytuno as a point of hope in the current world.
  • The speaker expresses thanks and looks forward to continued discussions.
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