In this episode, I speak with Elizabeth Corey about life beyond politics, friendship, learning, and the work of Michael Oakeshott. We discuss a wide range of issues, including rationalism and politics, the value of the reading of classic texts, and Oakeshott's idea of different modes of engaging with the world: the practical, scientific, historical, and poetic.
We discuss Eric Voegelin, Russell Kirk, Gertrude Himmelfarb, Rod Dreher, what it means to be a conservative, and some recent developments in the conservative political movement. We talk about the importance of carving out spaces outside the political sphere, including building functional, decentralized civil associations, and practicing the things we defend: reading good books, playing music, conversation, and trying to live a good life. We also discuss whether in 2021 it is really possible today to escape the intrusion of politics into so many spheres of life.
Resources
Essays by Elizabeth Corey
The Conservative Disposition in a Revolutionary Age
Elizabeth Corey on Rod Dreher’s book Live Not By Lies
Other Resources
MMM on The Ideology of Global Secularism Part 1
By Corey, Elizabeth Campbell
Breaking Bread with the Dead: A Reader's Guide to a More Tranquil Mind
By Jacobs, Alan
By Pieper, Josef
Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents
By Dreher, Rod
Rationalism in Politics and other essays
By Michael Oakeshott
Experience and its Modes (Cambridge Philosophy Classics)
By Oakeshott, Michael
Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy
By Polanyi, Michael
The New Science of Politics: An Introduction (Walgreen Foundation Lectures)
By Voegelin, Eric
Ep. 33: Elizabeth Corey, Ph.D.: Life Beyond Politics