Origins & Early Life

Sir Roger Vernon Scruton (; 27 February 1944 – 12 January 2020) was an English philosopher, writer, and social critic who specialised in aesthetics and political philosophy, particularly in the furtherance of conservative views. The founding-editor of The Salisbury Review, a conservative political journal, Scruton wrote over 50 books on architecture, art, philosophy, politics, religion, among other topics. Scruton was also Chairman of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission for the United Kingdom government from 2019 to 2020. His views on classical architecture and beauty are still promoted via his foundation, while his political stances remain influential.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Scruton's publications include The Meaning of Conservatism (1980), Sexual Desire (1986), The Aesthetics of Music (1997), and How to Be a Conservative (2014). He was a regular contributor to the popular media, including The Times, The Spectator, and the New Statesman. Scruton explained that he embraced conservatism after witnessing the May 1968 student protests in France. From 1971 to 1992 he was lecturer, reader, and then Professor of Aesthetics at Birkbeck College, London, after which he was Professor of Philosophy at...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• Ban Ki-moon — Contemporary (Born in 1944) (1944): South Korean diplomat who served as the UN Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016.
• Armando Manzanero — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Mexican composer and singer, celebrated for defining the romantic sound of postwar Latin America.
• Arthur Ashkin — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Pioneering physicist, recognized as the father of optical tweezers.
• Bernard Stiegler — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Influential French philosopher known for theories on digital technology and time.
• Alan Guth — Shared historical date (02-27 · Born) (1947): Pioneering cosmologist known for developing the theory of cosmic inflation.
• Constantine the Great — Shared historical date (02-27 · Born) (272): Roman Emperor who legalized Christianity and founded Constantinople.
• Agatha Christie — Shared historical date (01-12 · Died) (1976): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Shared historical date (01-12 · Born) (1929): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
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