EDMUND BURKE – THE LAST SON OF THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION
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profesor nadzwyczajny w Katedrze Doktryn Polityczno-
Prawnych na Wydziale Prawa i Administracji Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Publication date: 2019-12-23
Studia Politologiczne 2015;38
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ABSTRACT
The Author demonstrates that in his Reflections and Appeal Edmund Burke argued
against the New Whigs’ interpretation of Glorious Revolution. Instead, he gave an
Old Whig’ defence of it. Accordingly, the English had not created a new regime
but, rather, they restored the old one previously distorted by the Stuarts. Thus,
the Revolution was carried out exclusively to preserve the old laws and liberties
of Ancient Constitution. In fact, Burke rejected the idea of abstract, metaphysical
freedom and defended the notion of freedom deeply rooted in the national heritage
including the institutions of Ancient Constitution and the common law tradition.
The Author points out that, for Burke, the national institutions, customs, values
and liberties were a result of centuries’ long political experiences and social practices.
Therefore, Burke used his argument to defend the Ancient liberties of the English
as understood by the Old Whigs and to demolish the rationalistic speculations on
freedom as practiced by the New Whigs. All in all, the Author claims that defending
the Glorious Revolution in this way Burke proved himself to be the last Old Whig.
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