The Perennial Edmund Burke

Time: Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 pm ET
Dates:  March 3, 10, 17, 24
Faculty: Dr. Gregory Collins
Location: Online
Tuition: $100

Description

Edmund Burke was a prominent statesman and philosopher who denounced the society-wrenching ideology of the French Revolutionaries. His 1790 book, Reflections on the Revolution in France, is considered a seminal text in the Anglo-American political tradition. As Russell Kirk once remarked, Burke’s Reflections is “the most brilliant work of English political philosophy” and “must be read by anyone who wishes to understand the great controversies of modern politics.” Burke, in fact, is widely considered to be “the greatest of modern conservative thinkers” and “the founder of modern conservatism.”

Therefore, the Russell Kirk Center has secured an outstanding instructor, one of the nation’s foremost Burke scholars, Gregory Collins, to lead a virtual master class on Edmund Burke’s thought and legacy. Over the course of four weeks, this class will serve as an introduction to Burke’s historical and intellectual significance and to his most influential book. Students will consider how Burke’s ideas spoke to the dilemmas of the late eighteenth century and continue to speak to the moral, cultural, and social challenges of our own time.

This virtual master class touches on topics further explored in our upcoming Certificate in Conservative Studies, which offers participants an advanced-level study of the conservative intellectual tradition. It is the first of its kind in the United States and is grounded in the disciplines of history, literature, theology, philosophy, and political thought.

Applications are due by February 12, 2026. Class size is intentionally limited to allow for ample participant conversation. When we offered a similar class last year, it was in great demand, so early application is recommended. Please send a resume and letter of interest to Darrell Falconburg, Academic Program Officer, at dfalconburg@kirkcenter.org.