Conservative Minds

Bork tells us in the introduction that Slouching Towards Gomorrah is a book about American decline and the mounting resistence to it - what he calls the culture war. The enemy for Bork is modern liberalism. In particular, he warns against the dangers of what he terms 'radical egalitarianism' and 'radical individualism.' Both trends undermine traditional morality. Bork argues that govt should play a role in upholding public morality and stemming the tide of moral relativism. He also sees religious faith as the foundation for morality.

George Will believes the purpose of politics is to cultivate virtue. He argues that the government has a central role to play in governing the morality of its citizens. Statecraft as Soulcraft describes the political imperative to pursue policies that induce improvement of persons. In particular, he calls for policies that "proscribe, mandate, regulate, or subsidize behavior that will nurture, bolster, or alter habits and values on a broad scale."

Locke posits an original human state of nature characterized by nominal freedom and equality. People leave the state of nature to form political society to protect their property and ensure their safety. In Locke's view, government has a role limited to the preservation of liberty, the security of property, and the redress of injuries.

Weaver identified philosophical and cultural trends bubbling in the 1940s that denied absolute truth and higher-ordered values. He saw universal narratives - like God or country or family - that provide meaning and coherence to the world falling under the attack of relativism. The consequence of these ideas, he says, is the cultural decline of the West.

Goldwater believed foremost in preserving and extending freedom. He advocated for limited government, lower taxes, and restrained spending. In 1960, he teamed up with influential conservative writer, Brent Bozell, to pen his manifesto: The Conscience of a Conservative. An original bible of movement conservatism.

Goldwater believed foremost in preserving and extending freedom. He advocated for limited government, lower taxes, and restrained spending. In 1960, he teamed up with influential conservative writer, Brent Bozell, to pen his manifesto: The Conscience of a Conservative. An original bible of movement conservatism.