History of Ideas Club: Disraeli and Oakeshott

Send us Fan Mail 💭 Can politics be an art of belonging rather than a science of control? In this final instalment of the Heritage Series , Samuel Woodall explores the enduring legacy of Benjamin Disraeli and Michael Oakeshott — two thinkers who gave conservatism its humane and imaginative character. From Disraeli’s Sybil and the vision of “One Nation” politics, to Oakeshott’s On Being Conservative and his defence of civil association, Sam traces how both figures reimagined conservatism as a philosophy rooted in continuity, affection, and the poetry of ordinary life. 🎧 In this episode: Disraeli’s “Two Nations” and the birth of One Nation Conservatism Oakeshott’s critique of rationalism and the politics of tradition The conversation between romantic idealism and philosophical restraint How their ideas illuminate the moral centre of the conservative tradition This episode brings our Heritage Series to a close — a journey through the great lineage of conservative and traditionalist thought, from Plato and Augustine, through Burke, de Maistre, and Scruton, to the statesmanship of Disraeli and the quiet wisdom of Oakeshott. 📚 Hosted by Samuel Woodall (PhD Candidate in Intellectual History, University of Buckingham) 🎙️ Produced by Beyond the Text: The Intellectual Historian’s Podcast 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major platforms #BeyondTheText #HeritageSeries #BenjaminDisraeli #MichaelOakeshott #Conservatism #PoliticalPhilosophy #IntellectualHistory #OneNation #PhilosophyPodcast #HistoryOfIdeas #BritishPolitics Support the show