Conservative Philosophical Principles – Juan Donoso Cortés

The aim of this paper is to shed light on Cortés’ idea of conservatism both as a form of relational and oppositional ideology, and as a set of fundamental philosophical principles. Cortés (1809-1853) famously conceives the modern age as an epoch of heavily contradicting worldviews, leading towards an apocalyptic vision of conflict. His Ensayo sobre el catolicismo, el liberalismo y el socialismo identifies three ultimate ways of understanding the world, grounded in historical metaphysics and philosophical anthropology. Every possible political order stands in relation to a set of fundamental human questions, and every major political question can therefore be traced back to its theological origins. In this picture, socialism and Catholicism (i.e. true conservatism) are portrayed as resolute antagonists, with liberalism occupying the weaker middle ground. In Cortés’ view, Liberalism holds that all questions regarding good and evil can be treated as questions of government, and that every problem of government can be treated as a question of legitimacy. The aim here will be to tone down some of the more aggressive sides of Cortés’ traditionalist prophecy in light of a productive dialogue with his concept of conservatism. But is it possible to separate a particular form of thought from its historical context? Does Cortés’ real motivation lie in political philosophy proper or in mere polemics–is it reflective or reactionary?