Roger Scruton's Blog, page 11

Scrutopia Book Club

Join us on Friday 23rd October at 2pm for the second in our series of virtual book club meetings. 

 

What to read: Conversations with Roger Scruton, and I am delighted to confirm that Dr Mark Dooley will be introducing. Copies are available directly from our online bookshop.

On the day:  Please note you will need to ensure you are joining in the correct time zone! We will be meeting at 2pm London time . Here is an example table for other parts of the world: 

Australia 
East Coast 
Bris...

Before & After Scruton, The European Conservative - 17 Aug 20

I usually jest that my life divides into two parts: ‘Before Scruton’ and ‘After Scruton.’ My first five books were devoted to Søren Kierkegaard, Jacques Derrida, ethics, and postmodern theology. Since then, I have published three books directly on Sir Roger Scruton, and two others that owe much to his influence

Roger Scruton’s Architectural Morality, The American Conservative - 15 Aug 20

Very few of us will ever be referred to in the adjectival form. Yet Roger Scruton (1944-2020) deserves such an appellation, and as early as 1985, “Scrutonian gusto” appeared in a snide 1985 Architectural Review piece. The Oxford English Dictionary does not yet list “Scrutonian,” though it cites Sir Roger’s heroes, those who follow “Kantian” and “Hegelian” philosophy; “Burkean” is oddly absent, but his intellectual enemies, such as “Sartrian” and “Marcusian,” are also there. Had Sir Roger only be...

Scruton’s housing vision is finally being realised - The Spectator, 10 Aug 20

The government’s white paper on planning reform makes frequent reference to Roger Scruton and his Building Beautiful Commission – on which I worked as Scruton’s research assistant. If Scruton had lived to read the white paper, he would have found much to like, especially its commitment to building the homes the country needs. But he would have insisted that the proposed reforms can only succeed if the government gets the details right in its plans to win the consent of local people. Consent base...

Planning for the future

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government Robert Jenrick has opened the Planning for the future consultation proposing reform to the planning system to streamline and modernise the planning process, bring a new focus to design and sustainability, improve the system of developer contributions to infrastructure, and ensure more land is available for development where it is needed. Seeking to create better quality neighbourhoods and homes, we are pleased to see reference to the...

News from Scrutopia - 6th August 2020

Read the latest from Scrutopia here:  https://mailchi.mp/3fe95cac3469/4dxue1xf97-3768233

Green Philosophy Day 6 Sept 20

We are excited to be able to share with you the first in our open philosophy day series, the Green Philosophy Programme. Please join us on Sunday 6th September at Sundey Hill Farm for Green Philosophy, How to think seriously about the planet. We will be joined by experts including Ian Christie, George Monck and Tim Bonner and Frances Ward. 

Panellists, biographical details

Ian Christie is senior lecturer in social science of sustainable development at the University of Surrey, also formerly he...

Scrutopia weekend on Roger Scruton’s Aesthetics

We are delighted to share with you the wonderful programme which has been thoughtfully curated with Roger’s interests at heart for this year’s Alumni meeting.We recognise that many of you are unable to travel or join us this year, but we wanted to share the programme in case your reservations have changed or restrictions lifted. We have a small group so far confirmed and now that we have a fabulous weekend planned, the opportunity is open to all. 

The cost of the course will be £1200 per person...

News from Scrutopia - 3 July 2020

Read the latest from Scrutopia here - https://mailchi.mp/e08984d22224/4dxue1xf97-3745577

Angels still sitting on my shoulder - The Critic, July 2020

Douglas Murray discusses the importance of intellectual mentors and reveals two who continue to guide him.

A little while back I wrote something wildly unpopular and an acquaintance noted that I didn’t seem to mind. “Why would I?” I asked, genuinely interested. We drilled down to what seemed to me a rather important truth, one that I suspect many, if not most, writers share. Which is that it bothers me less what millions of people think than does the judgment of a small group of people (probabl...