conservative thought
Preference for tradition
Conservative thought is a political and philosophical orientation that emphasizes preserving established institutions, traditions, and social orders against rapid change.
It tends to value stability, hierarchy, and continuity with the past, viewing accumulated wisdom as superior to abstract theories of reform.
Conservative thought spans from Burkean skepticism of revolution to modern fiscal and social conservatism: Conservative thought holds that markets allocate resources more efficiently than central planning.
The term covers a broad coalition—traditionalists, libertarians, religious conservatives—whose priorities sometimes conflict.
- individual libertyOne's own protected rights
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
- capitalismPrivate profit-based economy
- free enterprisePrivately owned, competitive economy
heritage · Western civilization · family · nuclear family · precedent · natural law · subsidiarity · order · moral order · fiscal discipline · tradition · constitutionalism · rule of law · sovereignty · marriage · retrospection · deregulation · authority
conservative thoughtleftism
Politics favoring redistribution, equality
progressivism · liberal thought · liberalism · socialism · left-wing politics
conservative thoughtrevolutionary thought
Idea challenging established order
radicalism · radical thought · progressivism · reformism · anti-traditionalism
conservative thoughtegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
counterculture · cosmopolitanism · moral relativism · secular humanism · bohemianism
conservative, thought, conserve, conserving, conserved, conserves, conservation, conservator, conservatory