When I finished reading Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France, I was surprised by many of the ideas Burke proposes in his letter. The following are his most adamant claims: that tradition and convention are of the utmost importance, that politics and the running of government institutions are only for civilized, aristocratic members of a society, not the “swinish multitude,” and that equality is not an issue because society’s “natural order” is unequal (517, 511). After reading, I realized how all of these claims are in conflict with the American Dream, our idea that anyone who works hard can make a better life for themselves. From what I gathered in his Reflections on the Revolution in France, I believe that Burke would greatly protest the idea of the American Dream.
Burke’s first issue with the American Dream would be that, contrary to what he believes, everyone has an equal chance at bettering themselves. No matter what class a person is born into, how much money they have, or what their circumstances are, the very foundation of the American Dream is the idea that anyone, if they work hard, can create the life that they want for themselves. Burke, however, believes the opposite: that the “natural order” of society is unequal, and that people are born into classes where they should stay for the rest of their lives (511). For example, Burke writes that politics and governing should be reserved for the civilized aristocrats, not the normal citizens (the “swinish multitude”), because “the state suffers oppression if such as they [the masses]… are permitted to rule” (511). In other words, certain people are born to rule, and certain people are meant to follow and carry out their lowly jobs every day, and to say otherwise is “war with nature” (511). But regarding the American Dream, anyone can rise up to lead and rule, and everyone can make their lives what they want them to be – social class and Burke’s natural hierarchy should not restrict anyone.
Perhaps the greatest fault Burke would find with the American Dream would be that it is the very definition of defying tradition and convention, and of disregarding those “old fundamental principles” that are “the whole original fabric of [our] society” (520). The American Dream is the desire to break the tradition of generations that Burke so reveres; to live differently than your grandparents and parents, and to make a better life for yourself. Whether you are the first in your family to go to college, or if you are the first to make a million dollars, the American Dream is refusing to be restricted by the traditional path the generations of your family have taken. Along with displeasure at the thought of defying tradition, Burke would not support the concept of social mobility that the American Dream is based on, although he was actually a self-made man. Even though he says that he does not believe that power and distinction should be reserved for “blood and names and titles,” Burke goes on to caution against considering “a low education, a mean contracted view of things, a sordid, mercenary occupation as a preferable title to command” (511). Individuals are born into certain classes for a reason, and although the lower classes should not be oppressed in any way, only the “right” classes may lay claim to power, wealth and distinction – the complete opposite of the American Dream.
While Burke may frown upon the American Dream, I for one will aspire to be a living example of it. Although Burke may believe society falls into a naturally unequal order and that tradition is what gives men “conscious dignity” and “a noble pride,” I could not be happy knowing that I could not live a better life than my parents, or that I must forfeit my own life for the sake of preserving tradition and convention (510). Burke may have been able to succeed with his own beliefs about tradition, equality, and social class, but knowing every day that I am chasing my own dreams and that one day, they could actually, really be a reality is what keeps me going. I refuse to be held back by my class, my parents’ situation, or any traditions and conventions because I know I can do what makes me happy, and that I will live the American Dream.
*All quotes taken from Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France, pages 502-521 in Modern Political Thought, edited by David Wootton.
I agree completely with your position on Burke and the American dream. I also think that Burke would oppose the American dream because of the issue with social mobility and the thought that tradition would be defied. The fact that he believes so much in the fact that certain people are born to fulfill certain positions in society completely goes against the idea of the American dream. And I agree as well that I would not be happy with the thought of having to stay in the social class you were born into and knowing that there is no room for social mobility.
Well I want to first say that you should pursue your own dreams and I feel that exact same way. I wouldn’t be happy if I couldn’t chase after my dreams. And I also agree with your analysis. Burke probably would not have liked the idea of the American dream and how a person of low class can one day become the ruler. He would probably disapprove of the “rags to riches” story. Because he was such a strong believer in a sort of destiny, that you were born to a certain class for a reason, he wouldn’t like the idea that poor people could live their class if they work hard. Which is why I agree with the post.
It is very difficult to agree with Burke being raised as an American. We are definitely taught a set of values that he does not agree with. I really like how you handled this post. Burke would probably not like your take, or any of ours. We are a nation that encourages so much change and trying to better ones-self. I know the other comments had said much the same, but I wanted to let you know that I agree with your post and find it an excellent statement on Burke’s view of the American dream. It’s a great show of how we disprove his opinion as a people.
Although I completely agree with you on how Burke’s ideas contrast with the American dream, it is interesting to think about how Burke also valued the idea of freedom, with freedom being to important to said American dream. Yes, Burke’s idea of freedom is one of regulation, but he does emphasize freedom nonetheless.
I completely agree, Burke would strongly oppose the notion of the American Dream. Not only would Burke disagree with the idea that anyone so long as they work hard enough can achieve the lifestyle they desire, but also with the fact that the masses should aspire or seek to better themselves. Burke believed that lower class citizens should be content with their status because that is their natural order, and anything other than that would be in conflict with nature. Personally, Burke’s beliefs are incompatible with the notion of progress be it societal, personal etc. In fact, I feel that one of the main problems today is that we lack tenacity.
I also want to mention the idea that anyone can achieve whatever he or she wants, as long as he or she has enough perseverance and determination. I don’t think Burke would disagree with this completely. Burke opposes confining “power, authority, and distinction to blood and names and titles. There is no qualification for government but virtue and wisdom” (511). I take this to mean that, if a person is born with enough virtue and wisdom, he/she can achieve whatever he/she wants, no matter what family or circumstances he/she is born into. I think, when Burke addresses the “swinish multitude,” he is referring to those who do not actually want to work to achieve anything greater than what they were born into (for example, the American Dream).
I agree that Burke would not be a proponent of the American Dream, but looking at it from another point of view, it Burke’s views do seem more realistic. While the American Dream is attainable by some, the vast majority falls into Burke’s category. As disheartening as that may be, family’s limited resources and education can often limit their children’s education and opportunities and inadvertently keep them from breaking the generational pattern.
Personally, I do not agree at all with Burke that the tradition of classes should be upheld, but the American Dream just is not a reality for a lot of people.
I agree with you, Burke is a hypocrite and his idea that people are born to one class and should stay there is ridiculous. People are born to better themselves, not to stay put. Our society would go no where if we thought along the lines of Burke. And it’s an absurd idea that there is what single person who has the right to deem another unfit or unqualified to rule.
A number of comments have expressed the same thoughts, Burke’s ideas of being stuck in a social class is ridiculous, and I agree. But, when I think about the many social classes we have today, the saying “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer” come to mind. I feel that as a human being we all have the drive to succeed, do better than our parents, and have a wonderful life for ourselves; with this drive are many obstacles that keep us in the social class we have been put in. I do feel that if enough effort is put forth a person can go anywhere in life and Burke was somewhat correct on being stuck in a social class, just for different reasons in this day in age.
I agree that Burke’s concepts of little social mobility are outdated in today’s society. However, I think everyone is suffering from a case of presentism. You have to think about what Burke has to look at. England, governed under a king and Parliament made up of a more richer and better educated breed, at the time ran very smoothly and effectively. In contrast France, who disposed of their aristocracy and were now being led by the “common man”, was left in shambles with violence growing every day. it’s easy to pass off Burke’s ideas as foolish, but we must remember what Burke had in his life to write off of.
The idea of looking at Burke in his own time does make sense, however it is the timelessness of these philosophical ideas, and how they are implemented today that is subject to criticism. For instance, maybe we can’t call Burke “ignorant” for arguing ideas that seemed to make sense in his time, but we can certainly criticize governments today that follow his mentality of “tradition” and a very rigid hierarchical structure.
It seems to me that Burke’s did not trust the “swinish multitude” to participate in his society. I agree, he definitely would not have liked the idea of the American Dream. However, the United States is not always so accepting of everyone in the political process. Women could not vote until the 20th century. While we have rejected most of Burke’s ideas, the United States doesn’t just allow anyone to vote, either.