History of Ideas Club: Joseph de Maistre

Send us Fan MailWelcome to the third instalment of our Heritage Series, part of the History of Ideas Reading Club, hosted by Jack Thomson (MA Philosophy, University of Buckingham).In this session, we turn to the fiercely counter-revolutionary thought of Joseph de Maistre (1753–1821) — one of the most provocative and eloquent defenders of authority, monarchy, and faith in the wake of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.Jack explores de Maistre’s Considerations on France and The St Petersburg Dialogues, unpacking his vision of providence, order, and political legitimacy in a post-revolutionary world. Through de Maistre, we trace the intellectual foundations of traditionalism and reaction — ideas that would deeply influence later conservative and Catholic political thought.👉 Watch to learn:How de Maistre responded to the chaos of the RevolutionWhy he saw bloodshed as divine justiceHis influence on thinkers like Donoso Cortés, Bonald, and even modern conservatism🗣️ This episode continues our journey through Heritage: from Plato and Augustine to the philosophical roots of Burkean conservatism, exploring how ideas of order, virtue, and tradition have shaped Western political thought.📚 Hosted by the History of Ideas Reading Club (University of Buckingham) 🎙️ In association with Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian’s Podcast#HistoryOfIdeas #HeritageSeries #JosephDeMaistre #PoliticalPhilosophy #Conservatism #IntellectualHistory #BeyondTheText #PhilosophyDiscussion