Changes

}}

}}

'''Russell Amos Kirk''' (October 19, 1918 &ndash; April 29, 1994) was an [[American]] political theorist, [[conservative]] intellectual, historian of ideas, social critic, and man of letters, who is best known for his role in the American conservative movement. Kirk's 1953 book, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Santayana'',<ref>It went into 7 editions, the later ones with the title ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot''.</ref> attempted without complete success to lay claim to the history and direction of the modern conservative movement. His book traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving pride of place to the ideas of 18th century British writer and statesman [[Edmund Burke]], an Irish Protestant who was sympathetic to independence for the American colonies.

'''Russell Amos Kirk''' (October 19, 1918 &ndash; April 29, 1994) was an [[American]] political theorist, [[conservative]] intellectual, historian of ideas, social critic, and man of letters, who was best known for his role in the American conservative movement. Kirk's 1953 book, ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Santayana'',<ref>It went into 7 editions, the later ones with the title ''The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot''.</ref> attempted without complete success to lay claim to the history and direction of the modern conservative movement. His book traced the development of conservative thought in the Anglo-American tradition, giving pride of place to the ideas of 18th-century British writer and statesman [[Edmund Burke]], an Irish Protestant who was sympathetic to independence for the American colonies.

However, Kirk was not a [[movement conservative]]. His lack of vigilance against the potential for government tyranny, and his strident criticism of [[libertarian]]s, marginalize his effectiveness against the [[Deep State]], a ''[[1984]]'' type of society, or a government-imposed unisex society that obliterates gender distinctions. Kirk famously wrote "Ten Conservative Principles" which is abstract and never mentions gender, sex, [[abortion]], the [[homosexual agenda]], or [[transgenderism]]. Conservatives are champions of custom, convention, and continuity because they prefer the devil they know to the devil they don’t know.

However, Kirk was not a [[movement conservative]]. His lack of vigilance against the potential for government tyranny, and his strident criticism of [[libertarian]]s, marginalized his effectiveness against the [[Deep State]], a ''[[1984]]'' type of society, or a government-imposed unisex society that obliterates gender distinctions. Kirk famously wrote "Ten Conservative Principles" which is abstract and never mentions gender, sex, [[abortion]], the [[homosexual agenda]], or [[transgenderism]]. Conservatives are champions of custom, convention, and continuity because they prefer the devil they know to the devil they don’t know.

==Life==

==Life==

Kirk frequently published in two American conservative journals he helped found, ''[[National Review]]'' in 1955 and ''[[Modern Age]]'' in 1957. He was the founding editor of the latter, 1957-59. Later he was made a Distinguished Fellow of the [[Heritage Foundation]], where he gave a number of lectures.<ref>Many published in his ''The Politics of Prudence'' (1993) and ''Redeeming the Time'' (1998).</ref>

Kirk frequently published in two American conservative journals he helped found, ''[[National Review]]'' in 1955 and ''[[Modern Age]]'' in 1957. He was the founding editor of the latter, 1957-59. Later he was made a Distinguished Fellow of the [[Heritage Foundation]], where he gave a number of lectures.<ref>Many published in his ''The Politics of Prudence'' (1993) and ''Redeeming the Time'' (1998).</ref>

After leaving Michigan State, Kirk returned to Mecosta where he wrote the many books, academic articles, lectures, and the syndicated newspaper column (which ran for 13 years) by which he exerted his influence on American politics and intellectual life. In 1963, Kirk married Annette Courtemanche; they had four daughters. She and Kirk became known for their hospitality, welcoming many political, philosophical, and literary figures in their Mecosta house (known as "Piety Hill"), and giving shelter to political refugees, hoboes, and others. Their home became the site of a sort of seminar on conservative thought for university students. Piety Hill now houses the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal.

After leaving Michigan State, Kirk returned to Mecosta, where he wrote many books, academic articles, lectures, and the syndicated newspaper column (which ran for 13 years) by which he exerted his influence on American politics and intellectual life. In 1963, Kirk married Annette Courtemanche; they had four daughters. She and Kirk became known for their hospitality, welcoming many political, philosophical, and literary figures in their Mecosta house (known as "Piety Hill"), and giving shelter to political refugees, hoboes, and others. Their home became the site of a sort of seminar on conservative thought for university students. Piety Hill now houses the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal.

Kirk never learned to drive, calling cars "mechanical Jacobins", and would have nothing to do with television and what he called "electronic computers."

Kirk never learned to drive, calling cars "mechanical Jacobins", and would have nothing to do with television and what he called "electronic computers."

===Conservative attacks on Kirk===

===Conservative attacks on Kirk===

Some conservatives have strongly rejected Kirk's reading of the conservative tradition. Notably Claremeon scholar [[Harry Jaffa]] (a student of [[Leo Strauss]]) thought Kirk misread Burke because Burke's attack on metaphysical reasoning related only to modern philosophy's attempt to eliminate skeptical doubt from its premises and hence from its conclusions. Jaffa said:

Some conservatives have strongly rejected Kirk's reading of the conservative tradition. Notably Claremont scholar [[Harry Jaffa]] (a student of [[Leo Strauss]]) thought Kirk misread Burke because Burke's attack on metaphysical reasoning related only to modern philosophy's attempt to eliminate skeptical doubt from its premises and hence from its conclusions. Jaffa said:

:Like T.S. Eliot, Kirk wanted Christianity established in America. Like Eliot, he thought that "free thinking Jews" were a corrosive element within Christian civilization. For Kirk, the Enlightenment, as the moving cause of Jewish emancipation, as well as of the French Revolution, was the source of virtually all evil in the modern world.... Kirk and Kristol have been as one in their fanatical opposition to the doctrines embodied in the Declaration of Independence....their influence has been exerted to ignore or ridicule anyone who—like Jefferson, Lincoln, and Pope John Paul—believes that the truths held to be self-evident really are so, and can be proved to be so....[Kirk wrote]: "the Declaration is not conspicuously American in its ideas or its phrases, and not even characteristically Jeffersonian."<ref>Harry Jaffa, [http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.670/pub_detail.asp "The False Prophets of American Conservatism" (1998)]</ref>

:Like T.S. Eliot, Kirk wanted Christianity established in America. Like Eliot, he thought that "free thinking Jews" were a corrosive element within Christian civilization. For Kirk, the Enlightenment, as the moving cause of Jewish emancipation, as well as of the French Revolution, was the source of virtually all evil in the modern world.... Kirk and Kristol have been as one in their fanatical opposition to the doctrines embodied in the Declaration of Independence....their influence has been exerted to ignore or ridicule anyone who—like Jefferson, Lincoln, and Pope John Paul—believes that the truths held to be self-evident really are so, and can be proved to be so....[Kirk wrote]: "the Declaration is not conspicuously American in its ideas or its phrases, and not even characteristically Jeffersonian."<ref>Harry Jaffa, [http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.670/pub_detail.asp "The False Prophets of American Conservatism" (1998)]</ref>

===Kirk and Orestes Brownson===

===Kirk and Orestes Brownson===

Russello (2004) argues that Kirk adapted what 19th century American Catholic thinker [[Orestes Brownson]] called "territorial democracy" to articulate a version of federalism that was based on premises that differ in part from those of the Founders and other conservatives. Kirk further believed that territorial democracy could reconcile the tension between treating the states as mere provinces of the central government, and as autonomous political units independent of Washington. Finally, territorial democracy allowed Kirk to set out a theory of individual rights grounded in the particular historical circumstances of the United States, while rejecting a universal conception of such rights.

Russello (2004) argues that Kirk adapted what 19th-century American Catholic thinker [[Orestes Brownson]] called "territorial democracy" to articulate a version of federalism that was based on premises that differ in part from those of the Founders and other conservatives. Kirk further believed that territorial democracy could reconcile the tension between treating the states as mere provinces of the central government, and as autonomous political units independent of Washington. Finally, territorial democracy allowed Kirk to set out a theory of individual rights grounded in the particular historical circumstances of the United States, while rejecting a universal conception of such rights.

===Principles===

===Principles===

#A conviction that society requires orders and classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions;

#A conviction that society requires orders and classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions;

#A belief that property and freedom are closely linked;

#A belief that property and freedom are closely linked;

#A faith in custom, convention, and prescription, and

#A faith in custom, convention, and prescription;

#A recognition that innovation must be tied to existing traditions and customs, which entails a respect for the political value of prudence.

#A recognition that innovation must be tied to existing traditions and customs, which entails a respect for the political value of prudence.

===Kirk and Libertarianism===

===Kirk and Libertarianism===

Kirk grounded his "Burkean conservatism" in tradition, political philosophy, ''belles lettres'', and the strong religious faith of his later years; rather than libertarianism and free market economic reasoning. ''The Conservative Mind'' hardly mentions economics at all.  

Kirk grounded his "Burkean conservatism" in tradition, political philosophy, ''belles lettres'', and the strong religious faith of his later years, rather than libertarianism and free market economic reasoning. ''The Conservative Mind'' hardly mentions economics at all.  

In a polemic essay,<ref>[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm See]</ref> Kirk (quoting [[T.S. Eliot]]) called libertarians "chirping sectaries", adding that they and conservatives have nothing in common. He called the libertarian movement "an ideological clique forever splitting into sects still smaller and odder, but rarely conjugating." He said a line of division exists between believers in "some sort of transcendent moral order" and "utilitarians admitting no transcendent sanctions for conduct." He included libertarians in the latter category.<ref>[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm See]</ref>

In a polemic essay,<ref>[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm See]</ref> Kirk (quoting [[T.S. Eliot]]) called libertarians "chirping sectaries", adding that they and conservatives have nothing in common. He called the libertarian movement "an ideological clique forever splitting into sects still smaller and odder, but rarely conjugating." He said a line of division exists between believers in "some sort of transcendent moral order" and "utilitarians admitting no transcendent sanctions for conduct." He included libertarians in the latter category.<ref>[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm See]</ref>

===Kirk and Neoconservatism===

===Kirk and Neoconservatism===

Late in life, Kirk grew disenchanted with American [[neoconservatism|neoconservatives]] as well. On December 15, 1988, he gave a lecture at the Heritage Foundation, titled "The Neoconservatives: An Endangered Species."<ref>[https://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL178.cfm See]</ref> As ''Chronicles'' editor Scott Richert describes it,   

Late in life, Kirk grew disenchanted with American [[neoconservatism|neoconservatives]] as well. On December 15, 1988, he gave a lecture at the Heritage Foundation, titled "The Neoconservatives: An Endangered Species."<ref>[https://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL178.cfm See]</ref> As ''Chronicles'' editor Scott Richert describes it,   

<blockquote>[One line] helped define the emerging struggle between neoconservatives and paleoconservatives. "Not seldom has it seemed," Kirk declared, "as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States." A few years later, in another Heritage Foundation speech, Kirk repeated that line verbatim. In the wake of the Gulf War, which he had opposed, he clearly understood that those words carried even greater meaning.<ref>[http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/Chronicles/July2004/0704Richert.html See]</ref></blockquote>

<blockquote>[One line] helped define the emerging struggle between neoconservatives and paleoconservatives. "Not seldom has it seemed," Kirk declared, "as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States." A few years later, in another Heritage Foundation speech, Kirk repeated that line verbatim. In the wake of the Gulf War, which he had opposed, he clearly understood that those words carried even greater meaning.<ref>[http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/Chronicles/July2004/0704Richert.html See]</ref></blockquote>

Neoconservative [[Midge Decter]] attacked Kirk's line as "a bloody outrage, a piece of anti-Semitism by Kirk that impugns the loyalty of neoconservatives." She claimed that Kirk "said people like my husband and me put the interest of Israel before the interest of the United States, that we have a dual loyalty." She told [[The New Republic]], "It's this notion of a Christian civilization. You have to be part of it or you're not really fit to conserve anything. That's an old line and it's very ignorant."<ref>[http://www.cofcc.org/foundation/neoconservatism.htm See]</ref>

Neoconservative [[Midge Decter]] attacked Kirk's line as "a bloody outrage, a piece of anti-Semitism by Kirk that impugns the loyalty of neoconservatives." She claimed that Kirk "said people like my husband and me put the interest of Israel before the interest of the United States, that we have a dual loyalty." She told [[The New Republic]], "It's this notion of a Christian civilization. You have to be part of it or you're not really fit to conserve anything. That's an old line and it's very ignorant."<ref>[http://www.cofcc.org/foundation/neoconservatism.htm See]</ref>

Paleoconservative [[Samuel Francis]] called Kirk's "Tel Aviv" remark "a wisecrack about the slavishly pro-Israel sympathies among neoconservatives.<ref>[http://www.cofcc.org/foundation/neoconservatism.htm See]</ref> He called Decter's response untrue, "reckless" and "vitriolic." Furthermore, he argued that such a denunciation "always plays into the hands of the left, which is then able to repeat the charges and claim conservative endorsement of them."<ref>[https://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/1996/vo12no16/vo12no16_invasion.htm See]</ref>

Paleoconservative [[Samuel Francis]] called Kirk's "Tel Aviv" remark "a wisecrack about the slavishly pro-Israel sympathies among neoconservatives.<ref>[http://www.cofcc.org/foundation/neoconservatism.htm See]</ref> He called Decter's response untrue, " reckless" and "vitriolic." Furthermore, he argued that such a denunciation "always plays into the hands of the left, which is then able to repeat the charges and claim conservative endorsement of them."<ref>[https://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/1996/vo12no16/vo12no16_invasion.htm See]</ref>

==Man of letters==

==Man of letters==

The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal continues his legacy at his former home in Mecosta, [[Michigan]], which includes his library and a few residential houses.<ref>https://kirkcenter.org/</ref>

The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal continues his legacy at his former home in Mecosta, [[Michigan]], which includes his library and a few residential houses.<ref>https://kirkcenter.org/</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

* [[William F. Buckley, Jr.]]

* [[William F. Buckley, Jr.]]

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

''Modern Age'' articles are available online free at [http://www.isi.org/journals/archive/archive.aspx?id=912934da-f962-47fe-9bb8-4135b22303e4&journal=MA atchive]

''Modern Age'' articles are available online free at [http://www.isi.org/journals/archive/archive.aspx?id=912934da-f962-47fe-9bb8-4135b22303e4&journal=MA archive]

* Attarian, John. "Russell Kirk's Political Economy," ''Modern Age''  1998,  40: 87-97. Issn: 0026-7457.

* Attarian, John. "Russell Kirk's Political Economy," ''Modern Age''  1998,  40: 87-97. Issn: 0026-7457.

* East, John P. "Russell Kirk as a Political Theorist: Perceiving the Need for Order in the Soul and in Society," ''Modern Age'' 1984,  28: 33-44. Issn: 0026-7457 .

* East, John P. "Russell Kirk as a Political Theorist: Perceiving the Need for Order in the Soul and in Society," ''Modern Age'' 1984,  28: 33-44. Issn: 0026-7457.

* Jaffa, Harry. [http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.670/pub_detail.asp "The False Prophets of American Conservatism" (1998)], a stinging attack on Kirk by a leading conservative

* Jaffa, Harry. [http://www.claremont.org/publications/pubid.670/pub_detail.asp "The False Prophets of American Conservatism" (1998)], a stinging attack on Kirk by a leading conservative.

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Reason, Natural Law, and Moral Imagination in the Thought of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age''  1983,  27: 15-24. Issn: 0026-7457.

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Reason, Natural Law, and Moral Imagination in the Thought of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age''  1983,  27: 15-24. Issn: 0026-7457.

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Russell Kirk and The Age of Ideology." (2004); [https://www.amazon.com/Russell-Kirk-Ideology-Wesley-McDonald/dp/0826215122/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205881&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]; also [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=109320091 complete online edition]  

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Russell Kirk and The Age of Ideology." (2004); [https://www.amazon.com/Russell-Kirk-Ideology-Wesley-McDonald/dp/0826215122/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205881&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]; also [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=109320091 complete online edition].

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Russell Kirk and the Prospects for Conservatism,"  ''Humanitas'' 1999 XII: 56-76.  

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Russell Kirk and the Prospects for Conservatism,"  ''Humanitas'' 1999 XII: 56-76.

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Kirk, Russell (1918-94)," in "American Conservatism:  An Encyclopedia".  (2006).  ISI Books: 471-474.  Biographical entry.

* McDonald, William Wesley. "Kirk, Russell (1918-94)," in "American Conservatism:  An Encyclopedia".  (2006).  ISI Books: 471-474.  Biographical entry.

* Nash, George H.,  ''The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America''. (2006) [https://www.amazon.com/Conservative-Intellectual-Movement-America-Since/dp/1933859121/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205931&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Nash, George H.,  ''The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America''. (2006) [https://www.amazon.com/Conservative-Intellectual-Movement-America-Since/dp/1933859121/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205931&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Russello, Gerald J. ''The Postmodern Imagination of Russell Kirk''. (2007) University of Missouri Press. [https://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Imagination-Russell-Kirk/dp/0826217206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205466&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Russello, Gerald J. ''The Postmodern Imagination of Russell Kirk''. (2007) University of Missouri Press. [https://www.amazon.com/Postmodern-Imagination-Russell-Kirk/dp/0826217206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201205466&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Russello, Gerald J. "Time and Timeless: the Historical Imagination of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age'' 1999, 41: 209-19. Issn: 0026-7457.

* Russello, Gerald J. "Time and Timeless: the Historical Imagination of Russell Kirk," ''Modern Age'' 1999, 41: 209-19. Issn: 0026-7457.

* Russello, Gerald J. "Russell Kirk and Territorial Democracy," ''Publius 34'': 2004, 109-24. Issn: 0048-5950.  

* Russello, Gerald J. "Russell Kirk and Territorial Democracy," ''Publius 34'': 2004, 109-24. Issn: 0048-5950.

*  Schoenwald, Jonathan M. ''A Time for Choosing: The Rise of Modern American Conservatism.'' (2001).  [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104931191 online edition]

*  Schoenwald, Jonathan M. ''A Time for Choosing: The Rise of Modern American Conservatism.'' (2001).  [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=104931191 online edition]

* Whitney, Gleaves. "The Swords of Imagination: Russell Kirk's Battle with Modernity," ''Modern Age'' 2001, 43: 311-20. Issn: 0026-7457. Argues that Kirk used five "swords of imagination": historical, political, moral, poetic, and prophetic. [http://www.mmisi.org/ma/43_04/whitney.pdf  online edition]

* Whitney, Gleaves. "The Swords of Imagination: Russell Kirk's Battle with Modernity," ''Modern Age'' 2001, 43: 311-20. Issn: 0026-7457. Argues that Kirk used five "swords of imagination": historical, political, moral, poetic, and prophetic. [http://www.mmisi.org/ma/43_04/whitney.pdf  online edition]

==External links==

==External links==

*[https://kirkcenter.org/conservatism/ten-conservative-principles/ Ten Conservative Principles] by Russell Kirk

* [https://kirkcenter.org/conservatism/ten-conservative-principles/ Ten Conservative Principles] by Russell Kirk

* Miller, John L., "[http://www.traversemagazine-digital.com/traversemagazine/200701/?b=0&u1=text His Conservative Mind,]" ''Traverse'' (January 2007).

* Miller, John L., "[http://www.traversemagazine-digital.com/traversemagazine/200701/?b=0&u1=text His Conservative Mind,]" ''Traverse'' (January 2007).

*"[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/freud-per-kirk.html From The Academy.]"

* "[http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/freud-per-kirk.html From The Academy.]"

*"[http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/ANNETTE.HTM Life with Russell Kirk]" by Annette Kirk.

* "[http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/ANNETTE.HTM Life with Russell Kirk]" by Annette Kirk.

*"[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/765281/posts Russell Kirk on the Draft.]"

* "[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/765281/posts Russell Kirk on the Draft.]"

*[http://www.kirkcenter.org/kirkbio.html Biography], at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. With links to a very incomplete bibliography.

* [http://www.kirkcenter.org/kirkbio.html Biography], at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal. With links to a very incomplete bibliography.

*"[http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/kirk.html Russell Kirk Web Site]" .

* "[http://users.etown.edu/m/mcdonaldw/kirk.html Russell Kirk Web Site]"

*Kirk, Russell, "[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm Libertarians: Chirping Sectaries.]"

* Kirk, Russell, "[http://emp.byui.edu/DavisR/202/Libertarians.htm Libertarians: Chirping Sectaries.]"

*[[Heritage Foundation]] lectures by Kirk:

* [[Heritage Foundation]] lectures by Kirk:

**"[https://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL178.cfm The Neoconservatives: An Endangered Species.]" Heritage lecture 178, December 15, 1988.

** "[https://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL178.cfm The Neoconservatives: An Endangered Species.]" Heritage lecture 178, December 15, 1988.

**"[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770015/posts The Conservative Movement: Then And Now.]" No date.

** "[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/770015/posts The Conservative Movement: Then And Now.]" No date.

*[http://www.kirkcenter.org/ the Russell Kirk Center to continue his legacy]

* [http://www.kirkcenter.org/ the Russell Kirk Center to continue his legacy]

*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/32110-russell-kirk-and-aleksandr-solzhenitsyn-the-centennial-of-two-conservative-giants Russell Kirk and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — The Centennial of Two Conservative Giants], by James Heiser of ''[[The New American]]'', May 10, 2019.

*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/32110-russell-kirk-and-aleksandr-solzhenitsyn-the-centennial-of-two-conservative-giants Russell Kirk and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — The Centennial of Two Conservative Giants], by James Heiser of ''[[The New American]]'', May 10, 2019.