Difference between revisions of "Conservative Philosophy Group"
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| − | The '''Conservative Philosophy Group''' was founded in 1975 by [[Roger Scruton]] and [[John Casey]]. | + | The '''Conservative Philosophy Group''' was founded in 1975 by [[Jonathan Aitken]], [[Roger Scruton]] and [[John Casey]]. It met at [[Jonathan Aitken|Aitken's]] home at 47 Phillimore Gardens in Kensington, West London. <ref>'Lady Aitken: Political hostess and loyal mother whose army of admirers spanned generations', ''The Times'', 9 February 2005.</ref> The Groups founders had all supported [[Hugh Fraser]] in the 1975 Conservative Leadership Election (won by [[Margaret Thatcher]]). [[Jonathan Aitken]] recalls that: |
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| + | <blockquote style="background-color:ivory;border:1pt solid Darkgoldenrod;padding:1%;font-size:10pt">Three youthful enthusiasts who had played an emanuensis role in helping Hugh Fraser to set out his stall were [[Roger Scruton]] (then a lecturer in philosophy at Birkbeck college), Dr John Casey (a Cambridge don), and myself. When drinking sorrowfully together in the aftermath of Fraser’s defeat we had talked hopefully about keeping his ideas alive. To do this we formed a supper clyb which we called the Conservative Philosophy Group. <ref>Jonathan Aitken, ''Heroes and contemporaries'' (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2006) p.131</ref></blockquote> | ||
According to the group's co-founder [[John Casey]]: | According to the group's co-founder [[John Casey]]: | ||
Revision as of 14:22, 14 March 2011
The Conservative Philosophy Group was founded in 1975 by Jonathan Aitken, Roger Scruton and John Casey. It met at Aitken's home at 47 Phillimore Gardens in Kensington, West London. [1] The Groups founders had all supported Hugh Fraser in the 1975 Conservative Leadership Election (won by Margaret Thatcher). Jonathan Aitken recalls that:
Three youthful enthusiasts who had played an emanuensis role in helping Hugh Fraser to set out his stall were Roger Scruton (then a lecturer in philosophy at Birkbeck college), Dr John Casey (a Cambridge don), and myself. When drinking sorrowfully together in the aftermath of Fraser’s defeat we had talked hopefully about keeping his ideas alive. To do this we formed a supper clyb which we called the Conservative Philosophy Group. [2]
According to the group's co-founder John Casey:
There was an eclectic variety of speakers. A clutch of political philosophers and economists from the LSE were members, as well as philosophers and historians from Oxbridge. Over the years, papers were given by Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Michael Oakeshott, Elie Kedourie, the Archbishop of York (Habgood), Shirley Letwin, Peter Bauer, Hugh Trevor-Roper, Robert Blake, Edward Norman. Hugh Thomas, Maurice Cowling, Tony Quinton, T.E. Utley, Peregrine Worsthorne, Paul Johnson, Frank Johnson, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, Norman Stone, Charles Moore, Oliver Letwin, Noel Malcolm were members. So were very many of those who went on to serve in the Thatcher Cabinets, and some on the present Tory front-bench. Enoch Powell never missed a meeting. [3]
Jonathan Aitken writes that Thatcher 'pounced on a throwaway line' from Michael Oakeshott that 'de-nationalisation' should be called 'some thing more attractive like privitisation.' [4]
Notes
- ↑ 'Lady Aitken: Political hostess and loyal mother whose army of admirers spanned generations', The Times, 9 February 2005.
- ↑ Jonathan Aitken, Heroes and contemporaries (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2006) p.131
- ↑ John Casey, 'The revival of Tory philosophy', The Spectator, 17 March 2007.
- ↑ Jonathan Aitken, Heroes and contemporaries (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2006) p.131
