Why did Edmund Burke oppose the methods of the French Revolution?

Edmund Burke opposed the methods of the French Revolution because he believed its leaders were driven by a dangerous, rationalist contempt for the past and a desire to rebuild society based on abstract, untested schemes. In his Reflections on the Revolution in France, Burke argued that this approach threatened to destroy time-tested institutions and inherited values without any guarantee of creating something better.1

Burke viewed society as a partnership not only among the living but also with the dead and those yet to be born. Consequently, he advocated for evolutionary change that preserves tradition while allowing for improvement, rather than the radical, speculative reconstruction attempted by the French revolutionaries. He believed that:12

• Human Imperfection: Because humans are innately flawed, they should rely on the "latent wisdom" of tradition and prejudice rather than their own "private stock of reason".1
• Complexity of States: Modern states are too complex for metaphysical doctrines; attempting to force them into a perfect, abstract model inevitably leads to despotism and terror.1
• Social Necessity: Institutions like an established church and a landed aristocracy provide necessary stability and leadership.1