Ontologism of Conservative Thought. Semen Frank "Conservatism and Radicalism"
Here the summary of S.L. Frank's lecture "Conservatism and Radicalism” is published. The manuscript is kept in the Bakhmeteff Archive of Columbia University (New York, USA). The ontological content of true and false conservatism is disclosed in the text published here, as well as in his works "The Spiritual Foundations of Society”, "On the Other Side of the "Left" and the "Right"”, "The Dead Keep Silent”. The true worldview (ideology) (both radical and conservative) develops in the process of accretionary growth on the cultivated soil of national traditions and culture. False conservatism is inseparable from the false radicalism. One can see the "deepest affinity” between them demonstrated in lifeless stagnation and destructive movement. "Both idolatry and atheism advocate disregard of the true God”. Frank's philosophy shown in his conception of antinomystic monodualism, denies any extremities of political spectrum or convergence of the extremes. He accepts the only possible spiritually free conservatism.