Manichean conservatism

In The Geography of Good and Evil: Philosophical Investigations (Crosscurrents) , Dutch philosopher Andreas Kinneging argues that the conservative objection to the Enlightenment is not only intellectual but has to do with the will: “It is the view of conation that characterizes conservatism more than anything else.”  That view is “that man is by nature inclined to evil” or “encumbered with original sin.”

I’m with him so far, but then: The daily battle with our inherent evil “is an unequal battle, since the inclination to evil that dwells within us is more normal and natural than the desire to do the good.”  Evil is “strong as a weed” and springs up without any effort on our parts; but order, harmony, virtue “are hothouse plants that demand endless care.”  What’s needed to check the overwhelming power of evil is education, discipline, punishment, law.

Manichean conservatism: That’s what you get when you try conservatism without the Holy Spirit.