I am in a stretch of the academic year when I create a lot of work for myself by making my students in my two courses do writing assignments ahead of each session.
I've never understood Oakeshott's admiration for aristocracy (especially if you extend the argument to look at Junkers, boyars etc). It seems to me, based on his characterisation of conservativeness (as opposed to conservatism), that he ought to have been an advocate of Guild Socialism. And from what I can see, his family background ought to have inclined him that way.
In retrospect, the Beveridge reforms (most obviously NHS) have been central to British conservativeness, enduring and unifying even as a string of rationalist approaches (planning, Thatcherism, neoliberalism) have risen and fallen.
I've never understood Oakeshott's admiration for aristocracy (especially if you extend the argument to look at Junkers, boyars etc). It seems to me, based on his characterisation of conservativeness (as opposed to conservatism), that he ought to have been an advocate of Guild Socialism. And from what I can see, his family background ought to have inclined him that way.
There is resonance with guild socialism. But maybe Beveridge turned him away. I will look into that.
In retrospect, the Beveridge reforms (most obviously NHS) have been central to British conservativeness, enduring and unifying even as a string of rationalist approaches (planning, Thatcherism, neoliberalism) have risen and fallen.