Abstract

Richard M. Weaver's significance for political theory lies in his role as one of the guiding lights of the post-World War II conservative intellectual movement in the United States. An heir to the intellectual tradition of Southern agrarianism, Weaver's reflections on culture and modernity reflect the attempt by nineteenth and twentieth century Southern conservatives to temper the progress and promise of modernity with considerations drawn from an older tradition. This dissertation is an explication of his thought. It argues that his most significant contribution to conservative thought lies in his delineation of what is necessary for civilization and culture to flourish