The Joint Role of Prudence and Prescription in Edmund Burke’s Moral Philosophy

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Articolo

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RIVISTA DI FILOSOFIA NEO-SCOLASTICA

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RIVISTA DI FILOSOFIA NEO-SCOLASTICA - 2024 - 1. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) Metafisica, Scienza, Teologia

Titolo

The Joint Role of Prudence and Prescription in Edmund Burke’s Moral Philosophy

Autore

Giacomo Maria Arrigo

Editore

Vita e Pensiero

Formato

Articolo |

Pdf

Pagine

Online da

09-2024

Doi

10.26350/001050_000446

Issn

0035-6247 (stampa) | 1827-7926 (digitale)

€ 6,00

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Descrizione

Both of the most important readings of Edmund Burke’ philosophy—the utilitarian interpretation of the 19th century and the conservative interpretation of the 20th century— are partial and unable to give a coherent understanding of such terms as «utility», «expedience» and «prescription» on the one hand, and on the other, such notions as «natural law», «eternal justice» and «Providence», instead considering them irreconcilable. Other more recent interpretations tend to show some degree of coherence and unity in Burkean philosophy. This study contributes to identifying the originality of Burke’s moral philosophy through the exploration of the correlation of «prudence» and «prescription», understood here as two complementary ways to obey natural law – in the first case, by means of cautious deliberations of the phronimos; in the second case, through the flow of time that reveals a superior normative order deriving from collective community/species decisions. On both levels, the category of «utility» finds a place in relation to that of eternal justice, representing the countercheck for the proper ‘translation’ of natural law into history.