Reflections on the Revolution in France

Edmund Burke

ene 2008 · Cosimo, Inc.

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Reflections on the Revolution in France is the most famous and popular work of Irish political writer and statesman EDMUND BURKE (1729-1797), whose 12-volume set of collected works has long been considered one of the most influential anthologies of political philosophy in the English language. Reflections, included in Volume III of that set, is significant enough to warrant its own separate publication here. Although Burke supported many liberal movements, such as the right of self-rule of the American colonies and of Ireland, he did not support the French Revolution: he believed the uprising was based on faulty notions that did not properly account for the pitfalls of human nature, and this, he predicted, would lead the revolutionaries to disaster. And indeed, the Revolution did lead to the Reign of Terror and eventually Napoleon Bonaparte. Students of history and philosophy will find Burke's arguments as provocative as his contemporaries did.

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Born in Ireland in 1729, Edmund Burke was an English statesman, author, and orator who is best remembered as a formidable advocate for those who were victims of injustice. He was the son of a Dublin lawyer and had also trained to practice law. In the 1760s, Burke was elected to the House of Commons from the Whig party. Burke spent most of his career in Parliament as a member of the Royal Opposition, who was not afraid of controversy, as shown by his support for the American Revolution and for Irish/Catholic rights. His best-known work is Reflections on the French Revolution (1790). Some other notable works are On Conciliation with the American Colonies (1775) and Impeachment of Warren Hastings (1788). Edmund Burke died in 1797.