Richard Weaver’s Cultural Critique: Lessons for Modern Conservatism

Richard Malcolm Weaver, Jr. was an American scholar known for his contributions to conservative thought. Here are some key ideas associated with him:

Ideas Have Consequences: His most famous work, where he argues that the decline of Western civilization began with the abandonment of a belief in absolute truth and objective reality in the late Middle Ages. He posits that this shift led to nominalism, which he sees as the root of modern relativism and moral decay.

Defense of Tradition: Weaver was a proponent of traditional values, arguing that the wisdom of the past should guide the present. He believed in the importance of cultural continuity and heritage.

The Role of Rhetoric: As a scholar of rhetoric, Weaver emphasized the power of language and persuasion, seeing rhetoric as a means to convey truth and uphold moral standards.

Critique of Modernity: He was critical of modern progressivism, mass culture, and what he saw as the erosion of individual responsibility and the rise of collectivism.

Hierarchy and Order: Weaver valued social hierarchy, arguing that order, both social and metaphysical, is necessary for a stable society. He believed in natural distinctions among people, not based on equality but on merit and character.

Agrarianism: He had sympathies with the Southern Agrarians, valuing rural life and small-scale farming over industrial urbanization, seeing in it a model for social stability and ethical living.

Weaver's ideas are often seen as foundational to the post-World War II conservative intellectual movement in the United States.