The Shipwrecked Mind

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We struggle to comprehend the reactionary mind, which shapes today’s political landscape. Mark Lilla argues that the reactionary is not merely a conservative; rather, he is a radical figure, disoriented by rapid change and yearning for an idealized past, while fearing an impending catastrophe. The motivations behind reactionary politics are rooted in sophisticated ideas. Lilla explores the foundations of reactionary thought through three twentieth-century philosophers—Franz Rosenzweig, Eric Voegelin, and Leo Strauss—who linked modern societal issues to a rupture in the history of ideas and advocated for a return to earlier philosophies. He also delves into the lasting influence of grand historical narratives of betrayal that have shaped political perspectives since the French Revolution. These narratives serve various, often opposing, purposes and appear in the works of right-wing cultural pessimists, Maoist neocommunists, American theoconservatives, and radical Islamists. While the revolutionary fervor that fueled global movements may have waned, the spirit of reaction remains a powerful historical force. In our current age, the tragicomic nostalgia reminiscent of Don Quixote has morphed into a potent, sometimes dangerous weapon. Lilla illuminates the reasons behind this phenomenon.