An introduction to the thought of George Parkin Grant (Part

[styky]

An introduction to the thought of George Parkin Grant (Part One)

By Mark Wegierski
web posted April 9, 2012

George Parkin GrantGeorge Parkin Grant (1918-1988) is one of the rarest of birds -- a conservative Canadian nationalist philosopher. George Parkin Grant (who usually called himself George Grant) is virtually unknown outside Canada, and should not be confused with the American conservative writer of the same first and last name. The exploration of the combination of the four words used to describe George Grant – conservative, Canadian, nationalist, philosopher -- will be the backbone of this essay..................http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/ ... rantp1.htm

[Gerry T. Neal]

Thank you for posting a link to this styky. George Parkin Grant is one of my favorite writers and I have cited him frequently in my essays. A couple of years ago, when I wrote an essay ("Red is Not the Colour of Toryism")explaining why "Red Toryism" is not traditional Toryism I made reference to Gad Horowitz and Dalton Camp but deliberately made no reference to Grant. Grant disliked the term "Red Toryism" although those who coined it regarded themselves as his followers. He and his wife Sheila (whom he met in England while he was studying at Oxford at a meeting of a society organized by none other than C. S. Lewis for discussion of religious and philosophical topics) were strong critics of euthanasia and abortion, unlike most of the people the phrase "Red Tory" brings to mind. It is Grant's criticism of capitalism that caused him to be labelled a "Red Tory", but that criticism is seldom understood either by those who think they are his followers, or those who would criticize him for it. Grant saw capitalism as a force that must necessarily result in rapid change and the devastation of time-honoured social institutions. In this he was 100% correct, which is why it is foolish to equate conservatism with capitalism. Where I don't quite agree with him myself, is in his conclusion that socialism is more stable. I see socialism as developed form of capitalism, rather than as capitalism's opposite.

[styky]

Thank you for posting a link to this styky. George Parkin Grant is one of my favorite writers and I have cited him frequently in my essays. A couple of years ago, when I wrote an essay ("Red is Not the Colour of Toryism")explaining why "Red Toryism" is not traditional Toryism I made reference to Gad Horowitz and Dalton Camp but deliberately made no reference to Grant. Grant disliked the term "Red Toryism" although those who coined it regarded themselves as his followers. He and his wife Sheila (whom he met in England while he was studying at Oxford at a meeting of a society organized by none other than C. S. Lewis for discussion of religious and philosophical topics) were strong critics of euthanasia and abortion, unlike most of the people the phrase "Red Tory" brings to mind. It is Grant's criticism of capitalism that caused him to be labelled a "Red Tory", but that criticism is seldom understood either by those who think they are his followers, or those who would criticize him for it. Grant saw capitalism as a force that must necessarily result in rapid change and the devastation of time-honoured social institutions. In this he was 100% correct, which is why it is foolish to equate conservatism with capitalism. Where I don't quite agree with him myself, is in his conclusion that socialism is more stable. I see socialism as developed form of capitalism, rather than as capitalism's opposite.

I watch every Sunday night for the latest article by Mark Wegierski to be posted because he never disappoints.

[Gerry T. Neal]

I watch every Sunday night for the latest article by Mark Wegierski to be posted because he never disappoints.

He used to be a regular contributor to Chronicles Magazine, the American paleoconservative publication which is by far the best conservative publication in North American today. I think he still contributes to them but less regularly.

[styky]

An introduction to the thought of George Parkin Grant (Part Two)

By Mark Wegierski
web posted April 16, 2012

One way of understanding George Grant's view of the political spectrum is to use some of Marx's categories for the different types of societies -- feudal, capitalist, and socialist. The conservatism of George Grant may be seen as rooted in ideas somewhat reminiscent of feudalism, which are of course at odds with capitalism. Aristocracy, priesthood, kingship, honour, virtue, and so forth, are clearly in opposition to the values of the bourgeoisie -- rationalism and functionalism -- the supremacy of the cash-nexus. (For example, an aristocrat or gentleman who believed in high culture and self-cultivation would probably find it very soul-deadening if he were forced to work as a modern corporate manager -- or computer programmer.) Individualist liberalism and capitalism are virtually identical, and are opposed to both feudalism and socialism.......................http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/ ... rantp2.htm

[styky]

An introduction to the thought of George Parkin Grant (Part Three)

By Mark Wegierski
web posted April 23, 2012

The world of Canadian politics has been undergoing unusually dramatic shifts. In the 1980s, the Tories or Progressive Conservatives (P.C.'s), traditionally the party of Canadian nationalism, protectionism, etc., had become a liberal-capitalist party, pushing free-enterprise and free-trade. The Liberals, whose conventional policy had always been pro-U.S. continentalism (or, so-called "amalgamation") had, in the 1980s, become Canadian nationalists. The Liberals fought against the Free Trade Agreement in 1988 under the leadership of John Turner. Turner might have in fact been more substantively conservative than Brian Mulroney on many issues. The New Democrats (New Democratic Party – NDP – Canada's social democratic party) often described themselves as the most consistent Canadian nationalists in that decade. In the 1990s, however, it seemed that all of the parties in the federal Parliament had become liberal-capitalist, with greater or lesser degrees of fervour. There have remained though, large cultural industries and structures -- together commanding greater resources than some major political parties -- which appear to make the persistence of Canadian identity possible. These might suggest to some that Canadian nationalism is alive and well, and that Canada -- to put it in Grantian terms -- has some chance of resisting the Americans........................http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/ ... rantp3.htm

[styky]

Another thought provoking article, thank you Mr. Wegierski

[styky]

An introduction to the thought of George Parkin Grant (Part Four)

By Mark Wegierski
web posted April 30, 2012

George Grant's radical critique of the current-day situation lies in the realization that there is no ultimate contradiction between social liberalism or libertinism (as typified by the philosophy of Herbert Marcuse, and the catchphrase -- "if it feels good, do it"); and economic conservatism (or neoconservatism) (the dominance of the big corporations). Grant writes: "The directors of General Motors and the followers of Professor Marcuse sail down the same river in different boats." Both impulses actually reinforce each other, and both serve to shut out any communitarian ideas from playing a part on the modern scene -- ideas which Grant clearly cherishes. Grant pessimistically argues that any socialism which does not question technology, technological development, and hedonism, is no different from capitalism...........http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/ ... rantp4.htm

[styky]

The professor and the philosopher (Part Two)

By Mark Wegierski
web posted May 14, 2012

George Grant had thought deeply about these issues of the problem of subjectivity in late modernity. He had somehow retained a belief in a transcendent God, as Professor William Christian reminds us, in his March 18, 1992, "Feedback" piece ("The philosopher, the vacuum cleaner and the perfection of God.") in The Globe and Mail. ...................http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/ ... urkap2.htm