Episode Details

In today's show Chris introduces Glenn and Tom to the work of sociologist and paleo-conservative Robert Nisbet. 

Nisbet was a sociologist and professor at Columbia, and his work reflects a time when sociologists were liberally educated and could draw on the thinking of the likes of Alexis de Tocqueville and Edmund Burke as well as classical philosophy and theology. Nisbet's best known work, The Quest for Community had a strong influence on Chris's thinking. It is particularly evident in Chris's book, Man of the House. 

During the course of the conversation the Pugsters discuss the various schools of thought that are often thrown together under the label "conservatism": libertarianism, classical liberalism, and paleo-conservatism. Seeing as most listeners are unfamiliar with the last of these labels, and that it is also the school of thought Chris, Tom, and Glenn most strongly identify with, they spend some time defining each while explaining why paleo-conservatism is actually genuine conservatism.

Here are some helpful links for further study: https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Community-Background-Essential-Conservative/dp/1935191500 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleoconservatism