Our society produces a legion of conservative influencers. Men like Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater, and Newt Gingrich. Once in a generation, however, an influencer of influencers arrives on the scene. They possess a prophetic, intuitive sense of normalcy and articulately steer a generation toward that virtue. One such individual is Russell Kirk. A man of letters, Kirk helped principled individuals embrace a system designed to map out their lives on the political-cultural landscape. Ronald Reagan especially credits Kirk as a primary source for molding his young conservative intellect.
A newly published book from Intercollegiate Studies Institute entitled The Essential Russell Kirk:Selected Essays provides the reader with a synopsis of Kirk's most influential writings. The editor, George Panichas, establishes his purpose in the first sentence of the preface. "The Essential Russell Kirk has as its chief purpose the task of offering to a new generation of readers representative writings of a distinguished American man of letters of the twentieth century." Panichas strategically groups the essays into categories he labels as "a terrain on which Kirk fought." The essentially exhaustive categories include, "The Idea of Conservatism"; "Our Sacred Patrimony"; "Principles of Order"; "The Moral Imagination";
"Places and People"; "The Drug of Ideology"; "Decadence and Renewal In Education"; "The American Republic"; "Conservators of Civilization". Panichas contextualizes each essay, providing the reader with a pivotal integrant in the comprehension of Kirk's conservative philosophy. In addition he supplies the reader with a bibliography of material devoted to Russell Kirk.
Each essay compels the reader to mull over their belief system and thirst for the resources Kirk provides.
In his essay entitled "What Is Conservatism?" Kirk opines that conservatism stands not as an ideology with an eye toward infallibility, such is the case with modern liberalism, but an attitude flowing from a heart for the transcendent moral order. He continues by offering what he calls the first principles discerned in British and American politics. Principles such as social continuity, prudence, variety, imperfectability, and reflection all materialize into a sort of invisible system called conservatism. At some point the conservative incarnates these principles. Kirk continues by suggesting that the conservative possesses an innate yearning for this principled character. He moves ahead with another essay expounding upon his influencers. This particular piece offers the reader a traditional-historical cornerstone on which to build their instinctive belief system. The essay, in a sense, assures our generation that we stand on a bedrock of tried and true lamps destined to burn with an eternal flame. Russell Kirk writes persuasively and intellectually without involving the reader in a perplexing opaque sure to wax eloquently into a state of boredom. Each essay mesmerizes the reader; leaves them hungry for the next. When one completes the book they may slap the proverbial knee out of a deep desire for more. And more one perhaps may discover through the bibliography or by hitting Kirk's official web site located here.
The serious conservative, one whose innate desire overflows with conservative beliefs, must read Russell Kirk. Simply put, Kirk helps one know the "why" and "what" they believe in their hearts.
