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==Philosophy==
==Philosophy==
Paleoconservatism "is distinguished by certain [[Philosophy|philosophical]] presumptions that differ markedly from the presumptions of [[neocon]]s and most modern conservatives."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "What the Heck is a Paleoconservative and Why You Should Care" op cit.</ref> Unlike most conservatives today, paleoconservatives are against the [[Iraq War]]. They are highly critical of the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] and the mainstream conservative movement. Paleoconservatism vocally distinguishes itself in its opposition to [[neoconservative|neoconservatism]]. However, what really sets them apart from other conservatives is much deeper than just policy: they generally reject the [[Enlightenment]] in whole or in part; they reject [[John Locke|Lockean]] "[[Social contract|contract theory]]" and the concept of "natural rights" outright. Dr. Donald Livingston, Professor of Philosophy at Emory University, has argued that natural rights are a "philosophical superstition," and that "Whatever they might be, natural rights are universal and apply to all men. Further, they are known by reason, independent of any inherited moral tradition... It follows, therefore, that the doctrine of natural rights must be in a condition of permanent hostility to all inherited moral traditions. Any such tradition, no matter how noble the goods of excellence cultivated in it, can always be seen as violating ''someone's'' natural rights under some interpretation or another."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "Understanding the Paleoconservative Perspective on Life" (2006) [http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/10/31/understanding-the-paleoconservative-perspective-on-life/ Intellectual Conservative]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>
Paleoconservatism "is distinguished by certain [[Philosophy|philosophical]] presumptions that differ markedly from the presumptions of [[neocon]]s and most modern conservatives."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "What the Heck is a Paleoconservative and Why You Should Care" op cit.</ref> Unlike most conservatives today, paleoconservatives are against the [[Iraq War]]. They are highly critical of the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] and the mainstream conservative movement. Paleoconservatism vocally distinguishes itself in its opposition to [[neoconservative|neoconservatism]]. However, what really sets them apart from other conservatives is much deeper than just policy: they generally reject the [[Enlightenment]] in whole or in part; they reject [[John Locke|Lockean]] "[[Social contract|contract theory]]" and the concept of "natural rights" outright. Dr. Donald Livingston, Professor of Philosophy at Emory University, has argued that natural rights are a "philosophical superstition," and that "Whatever they might be, natural rights are universal and apply to all men. Further, they are known by reason, independent of any inherited moral tradition... It follows, therefore, that the doctrine of natural rights must be in a condition of permanent hostility to all inherited moral traditions. Any such tradition, no matter how noble the goods of excellence cultivated in it, can always be seen as violating ''someone's'' natural rights under some interpretation or another."<ref>'''Phillips, Dan''' "Understanding the Paleoconservative Perspective on Life" (2006) [http://www.intellectualconservative.com/2006/10/31/understanding-the-paleoconservative-perspective-on-life/ Intellectual Conservative]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>
In the March 2004 edition of [[Chronicles (magazine)|''Chronicles'']] magazine, Samuel Francis defined paleoconservatism versus conservatism as: "What paleoconservatism tries to tell Americans is that the dominant forces in their society are no longer committed to conserving the traditions, institutions, and values that created and formed it, and, therefore, that those who are really conservative in any serious sense and wish to live under those traditions, institutions, and values need to oppose the dominant forces and form new ones."
Journalist Rod Dreher of the ''Dallas Morning News'' outlined what he called the "Crunchy Con Manifesto", which summarizes most paleoconservative principles:
*"We are conservatives who stand outside the conservative mainstream; therefore, we can see things that matter more clearly.
*Modern conservatism has become too focused on money, power, and the accumulation of stuff, and insufficiently concerned with the content of our individual and social character.
*Big business deserves as much skepticism as big government.
*Culture is more important than politics and economics.
*A conservatism that does not practice restraint, humility, and good stewardship—especially of the natural world—is not fundamentally conservative.
*Small, Local, Old, and Particular are almost always better than Big, Global, New, and Abstract.
*Beauty is more important than efficiency.
*The relentlessness of media-driven pop culture deadens our senses to authentic truth, beauty, and wisdom.
*We share Russell Kirk’s conviction that “the institution most essential to conserve is the family.”
*Politics and economics won’t save us; if our culture is to be saved at all, it will be by faithfully living by the [[Russell Kirk|Permanent Things]], conserving these ancient moral truths in the choices we make in our everyday lives."<ref>'''Dreher, Rod''' "A Crunchy Con Manifesto" [http://crunchycon.nationalreview.com/about/ National Review Online]. Accessed 26 December 2007.</ref>