The Conservative Sensibility by George F. Will Summary

The Conservative Sensibility is George F. Will's 500-page attempt to define what true conservatism means in America today. The book argues that the Founders embedded natural rights in the Constitution that should remain superior to government power, covering topics from capitalism and education to religion and the administrative state. Will calls for a return to constitutional principles and measured conservatism over populist politics.

The Conservative Sensibility is ideal for political philosophy students, conservative intellectuals, and readers seeking a scholarly defense of classical American conservatism. Those interested in constitutional theory, critiques of the administrative state, and erudite political commentary will find value in Will's extensive analysis. However, readers seeking populist conservative viewpoints may find Will's measured approach less appealing than current rightward movements.

The Conservative Sensibility offers an intellectually rigorous exploration of conservative principles, though its 500+ pages demand significant commitment. Will's erudite writing style and deep analysis of constitutional theory provide substantial intellectual value for serious political readers. However, critics argue his moderate conservatism may be less relevant to today's populist political landscape, making it more valuable as academic study than practical political guidance.

Will argues that America's Founders understood natural rights perfectly and embedded them in the Constitution to keep government forever inferior to individual liberty. He critiques the rise of the administrative state, executive branch power expansion, and Congress's abdication of traditional roles. The book calls for conservatives to embrace classical liberal elements while rejecting both progressive overreach and thoughtless populism.

In Chapter 9, Will attempts to defend conservative principles from an atheistic perspective, asking whether moral sense can exist independent of religion. Despite brilliantly expressing the Declaration's belief in natural rights from "nature's God," Will struggles to provide ultimate justification for human dignity without foundational religious standards. Critics note this creates a weak foundation for moral and political reasoning, with Will offering only that human behavior "somehow matters" under a "blank sky."

Will treats higher education with deep skepticism, viewing universities as dangerously radical and prone to utopianism and muddled thinking. He criticizes what he calls "intellectual gerrymandering," where curricula are carved into protected enclaves for racial, gender, and ethnic factions. Will sees academia as contributing to America's "thoughtless culture" rather than fostering genuine intellectual inquiry and constitutional understanding.

Will bemoans the rise of the administrative state with its boundless production of regulations that expand government power beyond constitutional limits. He argues this represents a fundamental departure from the Founders' vision of limited government constrained by natural rights. The book connects administrative overreach to the broader flow of power toward the executive branch as Congress abandons its traditional legislative role.

Will warns of a "thoughtless culture" linked to an "inattentive state" within a highly populist political system. He argues that both elites and the general population recognize something is fundamentally wrong with America but lack proper understanding of constitutional principles. The book calls for rethinking what conservatism means today while facing the reality of cultural and political deterioration.

Critics argue that Will's moderate, measured conservatism has been consistently trampled by populist conservative leaders who view moderation as weakness. His atheistic foundation for natural rights creates philosophical contradictions that undermine his arguments for human dignity. Some reviewers note that while intellectually impressive, the book's academic approach may be less relevant to practical conservative politics in the Trump era.

Will's extensive academic credentials—including a Princeton PhD and teaching positions at Harvard—shape the book's scholarly approach to conservative theory. His experience as a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and former Reagan ally turned Trump critic informs his call for principled conservatism over populism. His transition from Republican to independent in 2016 reflects the moderate conservative sensibility he advocates in the book.

While Burke remains evident in The Conservative Sensibility, Will has effectively retired the British conservative philosopher as a "respected distant relative" who no longer speaks directly to American conservatism. The book represents Will's turn toward classical liberal elements of American conservatism rather than Burke's emphasis on custom and tradition. This shift reflects Will's adaptation to the unique characteristics of American history and constitutional principles.

The Conservative Sensibility spans over 500 pages and demands serious intellectual engagement from readers. Will's writing style involves deconstructing sentences, scrutinizing individual words, and analyzing greater context with numerous paragraphs revolving around single words from historical figures. The book's complexity resembles "the universe" with both barely perceptible particles and gigantic conceptions, making it a monumental work that maintains reader interest despite its length.