Conservative Rhetoric: Perversity, Futility, and Jeopardy

The rhetoric of reaction, as discussed in the podcast, delves into the patterns of conservative arguments over time. Conservatives often employ the perversity thesis, suggesting that efforts for change lead to opposite outcomes. The futility thesis focuses on the belief that attempts to improve society are futile due to fundamental laws or natural orders. The jeopardy thesis warns that progressive aims may endanger past achievements or cherished goods, such as the tension between liberty and democracy.