Question: Is Burke an idealist or pragmatist? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
"Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed
Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;
And, happy melodist, unwearied,
For ever piping songs for ever new;"
[John Keats: Ode on a Grecian Urn]
An idealist is a person who lives in an imaginary world of fulfillment or of ideas or follows an ideal. The idealist, like the great romantic poet John Keats, lives in a world having ideal completeness. He is a man who strongly desires that men should live according to the highest principles of life. He always prefers an ideal way of living. On the other hand, a pragmatist is one who is worldly-wise and who has a practical view of life. He is a person who takes a practical approach to problems and is concerned primarily with the success or failure of her actions. To label Burke as an idealist is to do injustice to this great politician. Surely Burke nourishes noble ideas and generous principles. He too desires that men should be generous and sympathetic and the world should be a better place to live in. But, he is not a man living on the wings of imagination or the ideals of life. Burke is not an idealist in the true sense of the term. He is rather an idealistic pragmatist.
Burke is a politically sagacious person and he has in-depth knowledge of worldly affairs. He is a man of letters who is well aware of the happenings of the world. He knows that the world is not a utopia and here man's actions are prompted by motives and interests. In his "Speech on Conciliation with America," he does not advocate for an ideal world of moral principles; rather he proposes the noble principle of peaceful coexistence. His observations in the speech indicate that he is a man of practical wisdom. He says:
"This is nothing but what is natural and proper. All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act is founded on compromise and barter. We balance inconveniences; we give and take; we remit some rights, so that we may enjoy others, and we choose rather be happy citizens than subtle disputants. As we must give away some natural liberty to enjoy civil advantages, so we must sacrifice some civil liberties for the advantages to be derived from the communion and fellowship of a great empire."
Burke's political wisdom is evident in the quoted lines. He understands the basic principles governing life.
Burke hates abstract arguments based on metaphysical reasoning. He used to maintain that abstract principles should be discussed in schools and not in the Parliament. In his speech proposing conciliation with America, he is not concerned with the question of whether England has the right to tax America. He knows clearly that such discussions are pointless in addressing the real political problems. Hence, Burke always places great importance on expediency as a factor in politics. A politician should have a practical view of things and should act by assessing the circumstances. Burke takes his stance against using force on the colonies because of practical reasons. He says:
"Terror is not always the effect of force, and an armament is not a victory. If you do not succeed, you are without resources; for, conciliation failing, force remains; but, force failing, no further hope of reconciliation is left. Power and authority are sometimes bought by kindness, but they can never be begged as alms by an impoverished and defeated violence.'
His purpose for proposing the resolutions of peace is clear. He is guided by practical considerations. He has assessed that no other means are practically available for addressing the problem. His aim is to have the "Whole America". His ultimate goal is to retain the empire and to retain the wealthy colonies in order to derive benefits from them.
Burke places high importance on experience. He maintains that a practical politician should be guided by experience. In his “Speech on Conciliation with America" Burke points out from empirical evidence what the parliamentarians should do. He gives examples of Ireland, Chester, and Durham to support his resolutions of peace. His analysis of the character of America is based on practical knowledge and experience. He shows from a study of the American history and character wherein lay their interests. In his resolutions of peace, he is not guided by any lofty ideals; he is offering a practical solution to the deep problem.
Burke's view of government is also practical. It is not legal authority that makes a government rather it is the support from the people that gives it authenticity. Burke is not concerned with any ideal here he does not question the legitimacy of the 'new government' from a legal standpoint. He knows in the practical world it is the people's support that matters. He says:
"Obedience is what makes government, and not the names by which it is called; not the name of Governor, as formerly, or Committee, as at present. This new government originated directly from the people and was not transmitted through any of the ordinary artificial media of a positive constitution. It was not a manufacture ready formed, and transmitted to them in that condition from England."
Edmund Burke is not a common politician. He is not an ordinary man of the world. He possesses contradictions. He has his ideals. He approaches politics on those ideals. Though he places importance on expediency, he would not sacrifice his principles in order to gain an immediate advantage. What is remarkable about Burke is that he always places the moral before the mechanical considerations. To him, the fundamental rights of men are the greatest realities and therefore he always stands for the exploited, be they American colonists or 'dusky' millions of India or Royal personages of France. Magnanimity, generosity, and justice is always his guiding principles. He used to believe that there could be no conflict between the right and the expedient. He maintains that what is politically expedient is morally justifiable too. To many, he is an idealist. Others call him a humanist because he always fights for the rights and privileges of common men. However, he is not guided by his moral principles only. He has a practical vision of life. He is an idealistic pragmatist.
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