seen as inconsistent in his views through his career, though he denied this. He suggested an interpretation of nature and the natural order and thus implied a deep respect for the historical process. This also shows that social change is not only possible but inevitable. However, for Burke the scope and the role of thought operating as a reforming instrument on society as a whole is limited and should act in response to specific tensions or specific possibilities rather than in large speculative schemes that might interfere with the stable, habitual life of society Burke saw history as governed by an "eternal law" which he said could be discerned in both history and Christian revelation. When the statesman acts in accordance with the eternal law, tranquility results, just as chaos results wh
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