174 – Triggering Straussians with Greg Collins

Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

In his perpetual quest to mildly trigger his Straussian pals, Josh invites fellow Millennial and Burkean conservative Greg Collins on to discuss how Leo Strauss misconstrued Edmund Burke’s political views and lasting impact. Also discussed are Burke’s complex views on natural rights, manners, reform, revolution, social contract theory, classical liberalism, and Rousseau. Fair warning, dear listener, this one gets nerdy in a hurry!

About Greg Collins

From The Kirk Center

Dr. Gregory Collins is one of the most celebrated Burke scholars of the rising generation. He is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Program on Ethics, Politics, and Economics at Yale University. He recently received the Buckley Institute’s 2024 Lux and Veritas Faculty Prize. His first book, Commerce and Manners in Edmund Burke’s Political Economy, examined Edmund Burke’s understanding of the connection between markets and morals. Greg has also published articles on Adam Smith, F.A. Hayek, Frederick Douglass, Eric Voegelin, Leo Strauss, and Britain’s East India Company. His additional writings and book reviews can be found in Modern Age, Law & Liberty, National Affairs, National Review, and University Bookman. You can follow Greg on Twitter @GregCollins111

About the Russell Kirk Center’s School of Conservative Studies

As is noted in the episode, Josh met Greg during a recent virtual course on Burke. In the month of February, the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal hosted two of the nation’s foremost Burke scholars, Ian Crowe and Gregory Collins, as they taught a special class on Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France. This was a pilot course offered in anticipation of the official launch of the Russell Kirk Center’s School of Conservative Studies in the Fall of 2025. For information about the School and future courses, sign up for the Center's e-letter and print newsletter, Permanent Things. https://kirkcenter.org/permanent-things/