Reflections: Edmund Burke and the French Revoloution
Image: Mr. Burke Portrait
Edmund Burke's Backgournd
Burke was born in Ireland to a mixed Protestant-Catholic family. He first studied law, but eventually switched his focus to litrature and politics. He moved to Bristol where he published an essay titled Aesthetics 'The Sublime and Beautiful' in 1776. He caused a sensation when he wrote his book 'Reflections on the Revolution in France' in 1756. This book was a response to ideas produced by Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft. This response of ideas is why we now call Burke one of founders of Liberalism or Conservatism.
Burke's Thoughts on the Revolution in France
Burke thought that the outcome of the French Revolution was good. He belived that Liberty is something that humans diserve. He was however, astonished about the way it happened. In order for the French to overthrough their king they used ferocious crimes and used exesive force. He thought it fit to point out that the passion of liberty caused a person to use the opposite of it to achive their goal. He thought, in order to have a peacuful rebellion you need trained armies, and a solid political structure to put in place of the one you were removing. He states the rebelled against a "mild and lawful monarchy." and that they were wrong to dispise their forefathers. Becasue they did not utilize their old resources, and punished citizens, they were more violent and created worse situations, instead of creating a civil revolution. This damaged the social and ecoconomic state after the revolution and the ends did not justify the means. Burke also states that the men who were the masterminds behind the revolution would fail if they were put in charge. Any men who would scheme, backstab, and kill their political opposition are not the type of people you want running your government, their wilingness to stop at nothing to achive their goals is a detriment to the health of any society.
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