The theoretical case for conservatism, defined here as a political deference toward the status quo and a skepticism and mistrust of major change, is stronger than most political economists acknowledge. To reach this conclusion, however, one must recognize the significant differences between the varieties of conservatism.

Nicholas Rescher is Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh and a member of the Board of Advisors for the Center on Culture and Civil Society at the Independent Institute.
Contemporary PoliticsCulture and SocietyGovernment and Politics
Other Independent Review articles by Nicholas Rescher
Summer 2021 On Editorial Varnish
Winter 2017/18 Early RAND as a Talent Incubator: An Extraordinary Experiment
Fall 2017 Realism about Political Philosophy