From the idea of being conservative

We live in a time when being conservative is seen as a flaw. At best, conservatism is dismissed as outdated nostalgia. The standard-bearers of the zeitgeist understand freedom as the destruction of all communities that have developed throughout history, of all cultural and institutional ties. Conservatives, however, stand in opposition. They believe that there is much good in our societies and that it is worth preserving. For while it is easy to destroy something, is what replaces the destroyed always necessarily better? Roger Scruton, a philosopher and one of the most influential conservative intellectuals of our time, explains in this fact-rich yet personal and humorous book how one can think and act conservatively even against the prevailing views of modern society. His own experiences with communist rule in Eastern Europe and the dominance of leftist thought in universities and public life provide the backdrop for his fearless and bold conclusions for a contemporary conservatism. Scruton demonstrates that it is indeed possible to protect the fabric of communities and to restore it where it is at risk of being lost. Instead of mourning what is lost, he has written a thoroughly optimistic book. While many dismiss conservative ideas at best as political nostalgia, Scruton proves otherwise. Something that should be particularly useful for German-speaking readers. For the conservative philosophy he advocates is not one to be placed in a glass case like an exhibit in a museum, appreciated only by connoisseurs. It is a profound philosophy that is useful here and now. Recognizing this is especially important for young readers. The philosophy developed by Scruton seeks no refuge in.