Modern Age - Winter 2016 - 37

THE VARIETIES OF BURKE

to classical thought than was the very 'radicalism' of the theorists
of the French Revolution" (NRH, 318-19).
"In opposing [the radical French] intrusion of the spirit of speculation or of theory into the field of practice or of politics" (NRH,
303), Burke seems to return to Aristotle's practical political science.
However, "Burke is not content with defending practical wisdom
against the encroachments of theoretical science. He parts company with the Aristotelian tradition by disparaging theory and
especially metaphysics" (NRH, 311). While initially it appeared
as if Burke joined Aristotle in affirming the distinction between
theoretical science and practical science, in Strauss's account it
becomes clear "that Burke's distinction between theory and
practice is radically different from Aristotle's, since it is not based
on a clear conviction of the ultimate superiority of theory or of
the theoretical life" (NRH, 312).
Strauss finds a "connection between [Burke's] strictures on
metaphysics and the skeptical tendencies of his contemporaries
Hume and Rousseau" (NRH, 312), and concludes that Burke's philosophy encourages "a certain emancipation of sentiment and
instinct from reason, or a certain depreciation of reason." For
Strauss, "it is this novel attitude toward reason which accounts
for the nonclassical overtones in Burke's remarks on the difference between theory and practice." In Strauss's words, "Burke's
opposition to modern 'rationalism' shifts almost insensibly into
an opposition to 'rationalism' as such" (NRH, 313).
This "novel element in Burke's critique of reason" (Strauss uses
the term "novel" twice in a key paragraph on this issue in a way
that clearly suggests he means the "modern element" in Burke,
not that Burke himself is the originator of the view) is seen most
clearly ("reveals itself least ambiguously") "in its most important
37



Modern Age - Winter 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Modern Age - Winter 2016

Contents
Modern Age - Winter 2016 - Cover1
Modern Age - Winter 2016 - Cover2
Modern Age - Winter 2016 - Contents
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