Michael Oakeshott
Michael Joseph Oakeshott was a British philosopher and political theorist known for his work on the philosophy of history, philosophy of religion, aesthetics, and political philosophy. He is often regarded as one of the most important conservative thinkers of the 20th century.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Rationalism in Politics
And Other Essays
"Rationalism in Politics" is a collection of essays that critique the role of rationalism in politics, arguing that political decisions should be based on tradition and experience rather than abstract theories. The author asserts that rationalism, with its emphasis on premeditated, systematic approaches, often fails to acknowledge the complexity and unpredictability of human behavior and social dynamics. He emphasizes the importance of practical knowledge, acquired through experience, in political decision-making and criticizes the rationalist's disregard for such wisdom.
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2. On Human Conduct
A dense philosophical inquiry into human agency and political order, it distinguishes between associations oriented to collective purposes and a “civil association” structured by non-instrumental rules of law. It analyzes the logic of action and obligation, argues that laws function as adverbial conditions guiding conduct rather than commands toward substantive goals, and portrays the modern European state as a nomocratic framework that protects individual freedom by enabling persons to pursue self-chosen ends within a stable, predictable legal order.
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3. Ser Conservador
A reflective argument that presents conservatism as a disposition to prefer the familiar to the unknown and the tried to the untried, valuing tradition, practical knowledge, and the maintenance of workable arrangements. It treats politics as the art of preserving a civil order and allowing only incremental, necessary changes rather than pursuing grand transformative schemes. Skeptical of rationalist blueprints and utopian ambitions, it extols moderation, continuity, and a cautious openness to improvement.
