Nothing New Under the Sun—Permanence in Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind

In an era of globalization and explosive technological advances, society is filled with anxiety and uncertainty. It’s hard to understand how on the one hand our world has made progress with conveniences and resources, yet on the other hand we still struggle with inner peace and learning to live in harmony with one another. Wars are raging, nature makes it clear we are quite powerless when her fury erupts, and divisive rhetoric fills the airwaves with negative criticism and hatred, especially in the political realm. Extremists burn Bibles and the Koran, and disturbed individuals strike out against a society they perceive has mistreated and slighted them. While we continue to experiment with new lifestyles that promise prosperity and happiness, people’s lives seem to be filled with emptiness and despair. In an effort to address these issues in our “contemporary” world, Russell Kirk offers some ideas in his book, The Conservative Mind, which can help us live a more fulfilling and meaningful life regardless of the circumstances we face in this crazy age. In essence, Kirk calls for recognition that human nature is corrupt, we need to cling to those conservative values that stand the test of time, and traits like humility need to guide our actions in every facet of our lives. ????

While we would like to believe our world is progressive, the current state of domestic and world affairs remind us evil is alive and well in the human heart. Russell Kirk says we need to realize “…how close the beast lies beneath the skin of humanity” (Kirk, Conservative, 349). Idealistic notions of human nature evolving as history progresses are quickly erased as we remember the estimated 50 million lives lost during World War II with six million Jews killed in the name of national pride and racism. According to Kirk, “…the human heart, in reality, is the fountain of evil” (32). Trying to reform the heart through social, psychological, or medical means along with having the hope that our nature will improve as we move forward are false because “…human nature is a constant: the same vices and the same virtues are at work in every age” (Kirk, Eliot, 69). To hope humanity has learned the lessons of evil and warfare since the 2nd World War doesn’t seem possible either as we remember Korea, Vietnam, and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. It is an unpleasant reality to face the darker elements at work in our souls and in society as a whole, but from Kirk’s perspective, it is the first step we must take to make the best of a fallen world.

Leaders must acknowledge the sinful nature of man and promote traditional values that keep evil in check. Kirk writes, “Leadership can be restored only by the slow and painful process of developing moral gravity and intellectual seriousness, turning back to the strength of traditional doctrines—the honesty with which they face the fact of evil” (Kirk, Conservative, 375). Denial and an unwillingness to look the beast directly in the eyes will not cause the ugliness to vanish. It is only through, first, facing our depravity that we can put measures in place to keep the monster at bay. As Kirk observes, “It is to be seen, within this century, whether the conservatives can manage to force Sin, the ancient corruption of man, the proclivity to violence, envy, and avarice, back within the moral confines of Western society…” (406). The problem, however, is we don’t like to see our shortcomings, and sin is one of those unpopular words with negative connotations that some perceived self-righteous, religious folks who seem out of touch with a “progressive society” use to point the finger down at others. Yet, from Kirk’s perspective, “The salvation of civilization is contingent upon the revival of something like the doctrine of original sin” (368). Just as alcoholics need to recognize they have a drinking problem at the beginning of the recovery process, leaders need to face the inherent evil in our world to steer society away from the idealistic notions that humanity will express goodness and peace naturally in their lives.

It is not all doom and gloom from Kirk’s point of view, however.? As man sees his fallen state, the focus can be turned to moral initiatives that encourage people to reject negative inclinations and strive for principals that yield positive benefits for humanity in general. Nevertheless, as Kirk warns, “…man cannot remain human unless he restrains his appetites” (366). Taking the easy way out and yielding to those things that create pleasure and temporary satisfaction will never generate lasting happiness for people because according to Kirk, “When man loses sight of moral ends, his degradation commences” (349). Although morality tends to rub people the wrong way, Kirk highlights a moral tradition that has produced the best results in Western civilization throughout history.

Russell Kirk is not the only scholar to emphasize the need for orthodoxy as an answer to humanity’s woes. He says T.S. Eliot also admonished and “… labored to renew the wardrobe of a moral imagination, that generation might link with generation—and that, beyond the boredom and the horror, men might perceive the glory” (Kirk, Eliot, 4). In his essay, “Tradition and the Individual Talent,” Eliot explains how one generation can connect with others: “Tradition is a matter of much wider significance. It cannot be inherited, and if you want it you must obtain it by great labour. It involves, in the first place, the historical sense which…involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence; This historical sense…is a sense of the timeless as well as of the temporal together” (Eliot 38). So, it is not just a matter of linking up with past generations and learning the lessons of history that are important. It’s seeking that which creates lasting and permanent results that transcend the boundaries of history. Kirk warns that “…when generation thus ceases to link spiritually with generation, first civilization and then human existence itself must shrivel” (Kirk, Conservative, 378). The focus needs to be on the past, present, and future, realizing that “…the essence of social conservatism is preservation of the ancient moral traditions of humanity” (7) with “…faith in an enduring order of life” (33). Kirk continues by saying “…the American and the English and the Christian and the Greek pasts are not dead…” (386). Striving after the “permanent things” means in essence promoting and living to the best of our abilities within the constraints of strong moral guidelines. Clinton Brand comments further on this concept by stating that “…the most vital expressions of conservative thought are not to be measured so much by effective political activity as by their reflection in the tradition of humane letters, particularly in those writers who…furnished anew the wardrobe of the moral imagination” (Brand 357). Kirk is one of those writers who emphasized the need to develop and nurture a moral imagination that leads to conservative values.

Russell Kirk believes politics, morality, and religion are inseparable. But, people do not have the power on their own to live upright lives. That strength comes from the hand of Providence with, according to Kirk, a commitment to traditional teachings of the Christian church. Kirk saw the religious confusion at work in the church, though, along with a nation that had gone astray from its spiritual foundation: “Its religious instincts suppressed or bewildered, our society must find its way back to permanence, or die” (Kirk, Conservative, 378). The permanence Kirk is referring to is seeking the will of the Creator and following the guidelines of traditional moral doctrines. Kirk says, “…our world is only a little part of a great spiritual hierarchy. It is the faith of a man steeped in Christian and classical wisdom” (29). People need to see beyond the temporal constraints of this world to how it fits in the larger scheme of creation. Kirk believes the path leading to this revelation is found in the Christian and classical traditions. It is important to note, too, that Kirk emphasizes that “…upon the mound of dissent must rise the fortress of orthodox belief, without which human sin and foible know no limits, without which order and justice perish” (217). Not just any brand of Christianity will do—Kirk makes it clear that the long standing, historical, and traditional approach towards Christianity is what’s needed to combat the forces of evil through the power of the Eternal. “Providence, in essence, is continuing creation; and an irreligious people, denying the reality of Providence, condemn themselves to stagnation” (217). People cannot look to this life and world alone for answers because Kirk says “…permanence never is found in this universe” (320). It lies beyond the physical constraints and senses, and it can only be realized through revelation, acceptance, and belief--“…people who deny God must lose both the definition and the appreciation of knowledge, love, and beauty” (342). Trying to bring about a utopia by our own feeble human initiatives is futile. Attributes which bring out the best in us and in this world must come from a higher power than what can be mustered up from our own inner resources alone.

The answer to this world’s woes, according to Kirk, is a return to traditional Christian teachings and values. He doesn’t vacillate in his position by saying the world’s religions can be united in some unitarian, humanitarian movement that guides nations toward some common good. Moreover, he doesn’t generalize his ideas in some ecumenical Christian initiative, either. An orthodox, traditional approach, ideally for Kirk tied to Catholic doctrine, is the only viable, long-term solution. “Christian orthodoxy believes in an eternity, which, as it is super-human, is supra-terrestrial; and the real world being a world of spirit, man’s fate is not dependant upon the vicissitudes of this planet, but may be translated by Divine purpose into a realm apart from our present world of space and time” (317- 318). As much as our focus is on this life and what we perceive in the world around us, the only way to transcend our fallen condition from Kirk’s perspective is to connect to the Alpha and Omega who is working behind the scenes to redeem this broken world.

Although Russell Kirk doesn’t get into the specific elements on how a traditional approach should be applied to current problems, he does offer a general outline of what he has in mind:

A brief program, applying venerable conservative doctrines to modern issues, is likely to resemble that which follows: (1) An affirmation of the moral nature of society…true happiness is virtue…(2) The defense of property…strict surveillance of the leviathan business and the leviathan union…(3) Preservation of local liberties, traditional private rights, and the division of power…(4) National humility. (424-425)

?It is this last point on “national humility” that would be of primary benefit to our society today. Many of the issues we face have their roots in pride, an arrogance that is self-centered and focused on gaining power and drawing personal attention. Humility tends to aggravate people in our self-reliant, ego-driven culture here in America, especially. But, according to Kirk, “Only in humility do we find true wisdom, as houses fall and dancers vanish beneath the hill” (251). Humility in essence is having an open-minded willingness to learn and change as we listen to and respect the ideas and values of others. It is focused on doing what is best for our families, the organizations we function within, and society as a whole. As Kirk explains, “Humility…is the only effectual restraint upon this congenital vanity; yet our world has nearly forgotten the nature of humility” (371). Vanity is a worthless effort to exalt one’s self above others, and we see the result of this approach with despotic leaders like Vladimir Putin who do not care about the well being of their subjects but rather focus on amassing wealth, power, and prestige for themselves. Kirk has the hope, though, that “…America may indeed be addressed not to vanity…but, without knowing it, may be dedicated to repentance, to a new life of humility and charity” (428). Yes, this country has seen some tough times in recent history, and there may be an even rougher road ahead of us in the near future. However, being willing to address our issues with honesty and a willingness to change could lead to an even greater level of peace and prosperity as we see glimmers of hope in the way our nation has responded to aid Ukraine and the Middle East during war and instability.

While the world may seem to be spinning out of control and racing ahead at an exhausting pace, there really isn’t anything new under the sun. And it doesn’t matter whether a person is a Republican, Democrat, Christian, Moslem, or some other ideological orientation. Having a conservative mind is something all can embrace to bring those timeless principles like humility back into focus. Rather than digging up the dirt on the opposition, shouldn’t we instead seek to mutually work together to solve problems and make circumstances as harmonious as possible? The old saying that we need to “swallow our pride” is a good one. However, I wonder if a better way of expressing this is rather seeking to purge the pride out of our system by gulping down a heaping helping of humble pie. As unpleasant as this process is, it will enable us to recognize our weaknesses and limitations to beseech the power of Providence and strive for those permanent values and virtues that yield mercy, justice, and truth with an enduring unity and peace in our lives individually and collectively.

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Works Cited

Brand, Clinton A.? "The Voice of This Calling: The Enduring Legacy of T.S. Eliot."?Modern Age? 45.4?(2003):?357-365.?

Eliot, T.S. “Tradition and the Individual Talent.” Selected Prose of T.S. Eliot. New York: Harcourt Brace and Company, 1975

Kirk, Russell. Eliot and His Age. Wilmington, Delaware: ISI Books, 2008

Kirk, Russell. The Conservative Mind. BN Publishing, 2008?