Acton Line Brad Birzer Wonders if Russell Kirk’s Conservative Movement Has a Future
Sep 17, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Brad Birzer, the Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies at Hillsdale College, dives deep into the legacy and evolution of the conservative movement sparked by Russell Kirk. He reflects on Kirk's personalist philosophy and its impact on American conservatism. Birzer reveals how Kirk's relationships shaped his thoughts and his involvement with the Goldwater campaign. The conversation highlights the emotional landscape of writing in conservatism and how today's political challenges affect traditional values.
48:10
Conservatism As Biographical Humanism
- Russell Kirk organized The Conservative Mind as 29 mini-biographies rather than a philosophical treatise.
- He framed conservatism as a humanistic personalism focused on the dignity of distinct individuals.
Anti‑Ideology Radical Individualism
- Kirk rejected ideology and saw conservatism as anti-ideological because it values unique persons over uniform programs.
- His second tenet emphasizes radical individualism as the distinct manifestation of the divine.
Personal Ties Shaped Who Appeared
- Kirk removed Isabel Paterson from later editions after their personal falling-out despite earlier admiration.
- Birzer links Kirk's shifting inclusions to personal relationships and changing affinities.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app 1 chevron_right 2 chevron_right 3 chevron_right 4 chevron_right 5 chevron_right 6 chevron_right
Intro
00:00 • 2min
Foundations of American Conservatism
01:57 • 13min
The Emotional Landscape of Writing: Passion and Personal Influence
15:08 • 4min
Conservative Thought and Political Transformations
18:42 • 22min
Reflections on Conservatism and Dignity in a Changing World
41:06 • 5min
The Value of Historical Influence and Personal Connections
46:24 • 2min
#
Memoirs of a Superfluous Man
Albert J. Nock
#
The God of the Machine
null
Isabel Patterson
#12989
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
From Dawn to Decadence
500 Years of Western Cultural Life
Edward Lewis
Jacques Barzun
In this book, Jacques Barzun provides a detailed and interpretative history of Western culture from approximately 1500 to 2000.
The book is divided into four large-scale periods, each addressing different themes such as religious belief, governance, social and economic equality, and the effects of these eras.
Barzun explores various aspects of Western culture, including religious and philosophical thought, governance, politics, literature, art, music, science, and technology.
He identifies recurring themes like abstraction, analysis, emancipation, individualism, primitivism, scientism, and secularism.
The book concludes with a critique of modern society, describing it as a period of 'decadence' characterized by restlessness, institutional dysfunction, and a loss of creative possibilities, yet offering a hopeful note for future cultural renewal.
#2512
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
The Conservative Mind
Russell Kirk
Published in 1953, *The Conservative Mind* is a landmark book that gave shape to the postwar conservative movement in the United States.
Russell Kirk's work chronicles the history of conservative thought, starting with Edmund Burke and John Adams, and continuing through to 20th-century thinkers like Santayana and T.S.
Eliot.
The book defends traditional conservatism, emphasizing the importance of preserving ancient wisdom present in institutions, culture, and government, and expresses a distrust of 'progress' that seeks to dismantle these repositories of the 'permanent things.
' Kirk's vision of conservatism is rooted in the 'moral imagination' and the Burkean conception of society as an organic, sacred order, advocating for slow and cautious change rather than radical reforms.
#11931
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The quest for community
Robert A. Nisbet
Robert Nisbet's "The Quest for Community" is a sociological study exploring the historical and social forces that have shaped the concept and experience of community in the West.
Nisbet argues that the decline of traditional mediating institutions, such as the family, church, and local guilds, has contributed to a sense of alienation and anomie in modern society.
He examines the rise of the nation-state and its impact on community life, highlighting the tension between individual autonomy and social cohesion.
Nisbet's work offers a critical analysis of modern social structures and their consequences, advocating for a renewed emphasis on local communities and traditional institutions.
His insights remain relevant in understanding contemporary social issues.
#308
• Mentioned in 56 episodes
Fahrenheit 451
Ray Bradbury
In this classic dystopian novel, Ray Bradbury depicts a future American society where books are outlawed and 'firemen' are tasked with burning any discovered.
The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman who starts to question his role after encountering Clarisse, a young girl who loves nature and reading.
As Montag delves deeper into the world of books, he begins to see the emptiness of his life and the dangers of a society that values entertainment over critical thinking and intellectual freedom.
With the help of Faber, a retired English professor, Montag rebels against the system, leading to a confrontation with his fire chief, Captain Beatty, and ultimately joining a group of intellectuals who have memorized books to preserve knowledge for a post-apocalyptic future.
#2749
• Mentioned in 11 episodes
The constitution of liberty
Friedrich Von Hayek
In this classic work, Hayek restates the ideals of freedom that he believes have guided the growth of Western civilization.
The book is divided into three parts: 'The Value of Freedom,' which provides the philosophical foundation and justification of a free society; 'Freedom and the Law,' which discusses the development of the Rule of Law; and 'Freedom in the Welfare State,' which examines various areas of contemporary policy in light of the principles developed earlier.
Hayek argues that liberty is essential for innovation and progress, and he warns against excessive government control and the stifling of spontaneous forces in society.
He also explores the balance between individual freedoms and necessary government intervention, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law in ensuring individual liberty within a democratic society.
#752
• Mentioned in 30 episodes
Plutarch's Lives
Plutarch
Plutarch's Lives, also known as Parallel Lives, is a collection of 48 biographies of notable men from ancient Greece and Rome.
The work is structured in pairs, with one Greek and one Roman figure of similar destiny, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, or Demosthenes and Cicero.
Plutarch's primary concern was not to write strict historical accounts but to explore the moral virtues and failings of his subjects, aiming to provide examples of conduct to imitate or avoid.
The biographies are significant not only for their insight into the individuals but also for their historical value, offering a glimpse into the times in which they lived.
#201
• Mentioned in 73 episodes
The road to serfdom
Friedrich Von Hayek
In this influential book, Hayek argues that the abandonment of individualism and classical liberalism leads to a loss of freedom, the creation of an oppressive society, and ultimately, the tyranny of a dictator.
He challenges the view that fascism and Nazism are capitalist reactions against socialism, instead positing that these ideologies share common roots in central economic planning and the empowerment of the state over the individual.
The book emphasizes the dangers of collectivism and the importance of maintaining a free market system to preserve human freedom and dignity.
#
The Genius of American Politics
Daniel J. Boorstin
#21968
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
The new science of politics
Eric Voegelin
In 'The New Science of Politics,' Eric Voegelin critiques the positivist approach to political science, arguing that it fails to address existential questions and moral values.
He advocates for a return to a more holistic understanding of human nature and society, drawing on classical philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.
The book is a seminal work in political theory, offering insights into the historical roots of modern political thought and the need for a more comprehensive political science.
#7741
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Natural Right and History
Leo Strauss
In this book, Leo Strauss argues that there is a firm foundation in reality for the distinction between right and wrong in ethics and politics.
He contrasts classical natural right, as expounded by Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Thomas Aquinas, with modern natural right, which began with Thomas Hobbes and was further developed by thinkers like Locke, Rousseau, and Burke.
Strauss critiques modern natural right for leading to historicist relativism and argues that classical natural right is more in line with human nature as political animals.
The book is a comprehensive analysis of the intellectual crisis of modernity and the role of philosophy in understanding natural right.
#2451
• Mentioned in 12 episodes
Witness
Whittaker Chambers
Published in 1952, 'Witness' is a memoir that recounts Chambers' journey from being a dedicated Marxist-communist in the 1920s to his work as a courier in the Soviet underground during the 1930s.
The book also details his defection from communism, his spiritual conversion to Christianity, and his pivotal role in the Alger Hiss trials.
It is both a personal history and a philosophical treatise, offering insights into the dangers of communism and the importance of spiritual values in politics.
The book was widely acclaimed and is considered one of the most significant American autobiographies of the 20th century.
In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Bradley J. Birzer, Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies and professor of history at Hillsdale College, about Russell Kirk and the American conservative movement. What role did Kirk play in the conservative intellectual ferment of the early 1950s? How does the biographical framing of the Conservative Mind point to its humanistic nature? Who entered and left The Conservative Mind during its revisions? How did Kirk’s relationships and conflicts shape the evolution of his thought? Why did Kirk get involved with the Goldwater campaign and how did it affect his reputation? What is the political legacy of the conservative intellectual movement?
Russell Kirk: American Conservative | Bradley J. Birzer
Ten Conservative Principles | Russell Kirk
Individualism True And False | F.A. Hayek
Seven Conservative Minds| Bradley J. Birzer
The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot | Russell Kirk
The New Science of Politics: An Introduction | Eric Voegelin
The Genius of American Politics | Daniel J. Boorstin
Natural Right and History | Leo Strauss
The Quest for Community: A Study in the Ethics of Order and Freedom | Robert Nisbet
Plutarch's Lives, Vol. 1 (Modern Library Classics)
From Dawn to Decadence: 1500 to the Present—500 Years of Western Cultural Life | Jacques Barzun
Why I Am Not a Conservative | F.A. Hayek
Lord Acton on Revolution | Russell Kirk
If you’d like to support this podcast, you can help by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. If you have questions or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at podcast@acton.org.