Michael Oakeshott, Wendy Brown, and Paradoxes of Anti-moralism

Abstract

British philosopher Michael Oakeshott is well-known for a critique of rationalistic moral idealism. He has sometimes been charged with conservatism, since some of the moralisms he criticizes are leftist or socialist. Yet self-described progressive thinker Wendy Brown also criticizes moralism in politics, on some of the same grounds. Contributors to recent debates about moralism have attempted to give advice on how to avoid it, but it is one of those vices one is much more likely to see in others than identify in oneself. A return to some aspects of Oakeshott’s philosophy helps clear up what the problems are and provide some advice to the ongoing debate.