Michael Oakeshott on Religion, Aesthetics, and Politics (ERIC VOEGELIN INST SERIES)

268 Pages·2006·0.78 MB·English

by  Elizabeth Campbell Corey

Michael
Oakeshott
on Religion,
Aesthetics,
and Politics
Eric Voegelin Institute Series in Political Philosophy:
Studies in Religion and Politics
Jesus and the Gospel Movement:Not Afraid to Be Partners, by William Thompson-
Uberuaga
The Religious Foundations of Francis Bacon’s Thought, by Stephen A.McKnight
OTHER BOOKS IN THE ERIC VOEGELIN INSTITUTE
SERIES IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY SERIES
The American Way of Peace:An Interpretation, by Jan Prybyla
Art and Intellect in the Philosophy of Étienne Gilson, by Francesca Aran Murphy
Augustine and Politics as Longing in the World, by John von Heyking
Eros,Wisdom,and Silence:Plato’s Erotic Dialogues, by James M.Rhodes
Faith and Political Philosophy:The Correspondence between Leo Strauss and Eric
Voegelin,1934–1964, edited by Peter Emberley and Barry Cooper
A Government of Laws:Political Theory,Religion,and the American Founding,by Ellis
Sandoz
Hans Jonas:The Integrity of Thinking, by David J.Levy
Lonergan and the Philosophy of Historical Existence, by Thomas J.McPartland
The Narrow Path of Freedom and Other Essays, by Eugene Davidson
New Political Religions,or an Analysis of Modern Terrorism, by Barry Cooper
Robert B.Heilman and Eric Voegelin:A Friendship in Letters,1944–1984,edited by
Charles R.Embry
Transcendence and History:The Search for Ultimacy from Ancient Societies to Post-
modernity, by Glenn Hughes
Voegelin,Schelling,and the Philosophy of Historical Existence, by Jerry Day
Michael
Oakeshott
on
Religion,
Aesthetics,
and Politics
(cid:2)
Elizabeth Campbell Corey
University of Missouri Press
Columbia and London
Copyright © 2006 by
The Curators of the University of Missouri
University of Missouri Press,Columbia,Missouri 65201
Printed and bound in the United States of America
All rights reserved
5 4 3 2 1 10 09 08 07 06
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Corey,Elizabeth Campbell,1972–
Michael Oakeshott on religion,aesthetics,and politics /
Elizabeth Campbell Corey.
p. cm.— (Eric Voegelin Institute series in political
philosophy)
Summary:“Argues that Oakeshott’s views on aesthetics,
religion,and morality,which she places in the Augustinian
tradition,are intimately linked to a creative moral personality
that underlies his political theorizing.Also compares Oakeshott’s
Rationalism to Voegelin’s concept of Gnosticism and considers
both thinkers’treatment of Hobbes to delineate their philo-
sophical differences”—Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN-13:978-0-8262-1640-3 (hard cover :alk.paper)
1, Oakeshott,Michael Joseph,1901– 2. Philosophy,
Modern—20th century. 3. Religion. 4. Aesthetics.
5. Political science—Philosophy. I. Title. II. Series.
B1649.O344C67 2006
192—dc22
2006002465
™ This paper meets the requirements of the
American National Standard for Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials,Z39.48,1984.
Design:foleydesign
Typesetter:Crane Composition,Inc.
Printer and binder:Thomson-Shore,Inc.
Typeface:Bembo
The University of Missouri Press offers its grateful acknowledgment for a generous contribution
from the Eric Voegelin Institute and the Pierre F.and Enid Goodrich Foundation in support of
the publication of this volume.
TO DAVID AND BOB

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xi
1.Introduction 1
2.Oakeshott and Augustine on
the Human Condition 20
3.Future,Past,and Present 46
4.Oakeshott’s Religious Thought 73
5.Oakeshott’s Aesthetics 98
6.The Tower of Babel and the Moral Life 127
7.Rationalism and the Politics of Faith 155
8.Skeptical Politics and Civil Association 175
9.Rationalism and Gnosticism:
Oakeshott and Voegelin 189
10.Conclusion 215
Works Cited 233
Index 241

Acknowledgments
It is a pleasure to be able to thank all those people without whom this
book would not have been written. It was Bob McMahon who first
introduced me to Oakeshott when he gave me the newly published
essay “Religion and the World” during the summer before my senior
year at Oberlin College.Years later we read On Human Conduct togeth-
er,and I learned what it means to study and love a difficult work of phi-
losophy.
I am grateful for the support of the three political theorists at
Louisiana State University:my advisor,Ellis Sandoz;Cecil Eubanks;and
Jim Stoner.LSU remains a hidden gem for those who desire a true lib-
eral education and immersion in the history of political thought.There
is little pretension in Baton Rouge: just abundant time to read, think,
and converse.Oakeshott would surely approve.This book has grown out
of my PhD dissertation there, which was supported by the Earhart
Foundation.
My thanks also go to Timothy Fuller,whom I first met at a Liberty
Fund conference for graduate students.I knew of him already,of course,
as the editor of Rationalism in Politics and Religion,Politics and the Moral
Life. He generously agreed to advise my work from afar.This,in combi-
nation with his insightful essays and articles, has helped to shape my
views on Oakeshott’s unusual approach to religion and aesthetics.I owe
debts to Corey Abel,Eric Kos,and Glenn Worthington for providing me
with copies of Oakeshott’s early essays and notebooks.
I thank my parents,Bill and Helen Campbell,for their support of my
various scholarly endeavors,and for their insistence that during my years
at Oberlin I pursue not just music but liberal arts as well.Sometimes par-
ents see things that the most determined teenager is unable to see for her-
self.And my most important debt is owed to my husband,David Corey,
with whom I am happy to be continually en voyage.
ix