Edmund Burke's Reflection on the Revolution in France
Edmund Burke was a man who expressed his own mind without regard for anyone elseÆs approval. It was this trait that made his views in Reflection on the Revolution in France difficult for those who disagreed with him to bear. In his book, Burke was outspoken about his opposition to the French Revolution, arguing that it was a rebellion against tradition and authority. Burke felt strongly about the value of established law and the authorities that be, viewing them as the bulwarks of our society that protect it from being undermined by the chaotic elements of life. What was surprising about his opposition to the French Revolution was that he strongly supported the American Revolution. Many of his admirers were shocked and dismayed when he seemed to discount everything he had formerly stood for on the subject of freedom from the constraints of royalty. They began branding him as a reactionary and an enemy of democracy (ôEdmund Burkeö).
What his detractors failed to understand was that Burke made a distinction between rebellion against an oppressive government and revolutionary upheaval. He was not in favor of revolution as the answer to every problem that citizens had with their government, since revolution obviously undermined the order and peace that was supposed to exist in any country in the first place. Only in extreme cases where the human rights of the people were being usurped and abused by government did he believe that revolution was warranted. BurkeÆs supporters had erroneously labeled him a friend of revolution, not understanding that he viewed each case individually. As a result, Burke lost the respect of such admirers as Thomas Jefferson but gained the admiration of others like John Adams, who agreed with his views (ôEdmund Burkeö). Many people branded him as inconsistent because they were unable to understand that although his principles were the sa...