Rationalism in Politics

Michael Oakeshott, a prominent British conservative thinker, is best known for his critique of rationalism in politics. In his work, particularly the essay Rationalism in Politics (1962), Oakeshott argues against the tendency to reduce politics to abstract principles and theoretical models, detached from lived experience and tradition.1

He believed that rationalism in politics disregards the practical knowledge embedded in human practices and culture. Instead, Oakeshott emphasized the importance of tradition and practical wisdom, suggesting that political understanding is best gained through experience rather than solely through abstract reasoning. He viewed the rationalist approach as an oversimplification that can lead to a loss of nuanced understanding in political decision-making.12