Reply #158: a comment on Burke [View All]

[GhostofRichardRorty]

If I may chime in: I think there is a very reasonable middle ground between dismissing Burke and being a Burke-o-phile that this dissertation nicely illustrates. When I was a graduate student 20+ years ago, I certainly was irritated by the people who insisted on seeing everything in Burkean terms and who approached his books like they were religious texts and they were priests. But in those 20+ years I certainly have found Burke a tremendously valuable thinker & writer--especially the early Burke. Permanence & Change remains one of my favorite books. Anyway, end of sermon. My point is that he is worth more than a shrug, but less than worship. I think this dissertation models just the right kind of take. Kudos!