Question on two words

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I hope a similar message does not show up. It seems it takes awhile for a post from me to arrive at most newsgroups. What is the definition of "reactionary" and "radical" in the political sense? Does anybody know of any previous meanings of the words? Thanks. Gene ABV61-1043.001.HCB http://www.tckworld.com/opfoot Find "Skinny Dipping and Other Stories" On the web at www.publishamerica.com or www.military-brats.com and look for "Into Joy From Sadness" soon.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]What is the definition of "reactionary" and "radical" in the politicalsense? Does anybody know of any previous meanings of the words? Thanks.[/nq]
1. As in other cases, definitions are substantiated by (current) usage in each language that uses the words. (For sundry reasons these two words are used currently in English, French, German, Russian etc. Meanings may be significantly different.)

2. Etymology also contributes to definitions. So far as their political senses are concerned, Reaction was associated with Newton's Laws (approx. 1700) and the application of Newtonian mechanistic philosophy to the political domain (cf. French revolution.) Radical was a word in English before 1789: but acquired a new political sense as the name of one of the French parties of the period, applied later to English and other parties or interests.

-- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) dphillipson(at)trytel.com

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is the definition of "reactionary" and "radical" in the politicalsense? Does anybody know of any previous meanings of the words? Thanks.[/nq]
A radical is somebody who wishes to fundamentally change the entire political system by which a country is governed. The word comes from the Latin /radix/, meaning "root". The radical wishes to go to the root of the problem (as he/she perceives it), and change everything.

A reactionary is somebody who says "Hang on a minute, I prefer things the way they already are!". A reactionary does everything he/she can, in order to oppose the changes proposed by the radical.

In Britain during the early part of the industrial revolution (approx 1790-1832), the radicals wanted to introduce a democratic political system, with a vote for every male citizen over the age of 21. The radicals at that time were impressed by the political systems of both France (after the revolution) and the USA (after independence), and were proposing similar levels of democracy for this country. This idea provoked the opposition of the aristocracy, the capitalist employers, and the middle-men (members of the middle class who profited unreasonably from the weak bargaining position of workers in early industrial Britain). These groups combined into a reactionary alliance which opposed all idea of greater democracy.

In the Chartist period (1839 - 1848), the radicals were proposing both democracy and socialism or communism, provoking even greater reactionary opposition from those comfortably in power. The leaders of the Chartist movement, especially towards 1848, were in regular correspondence with both Marx and Engels.

Since then, the world has seen radical communists gain political power in the Russia of 1917, opposed unsuccessfully by the reactionary Tsars and their followers. But not all radicals are socialist/communist. The Ayatolla Khomeini came to power in Iran as a proponent of radical Islamist policies. Adolf Hitler was, in his own way, a radical. Certain extremist feminist groups are sometimes described as radical, opposed by reactionary male groups, and sometimes (unwittingly) by the entire male population. Some people claim that Margaret Thatcher was a radical Tory, opposed by the reactionary powers of socialism in the Labour Party of that era. But I regard that idea as bullshit which over-estimates the political changes introduced by Mrs Thatcher during the 1980s.

Richard Chambers Leeds UK.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]But I regard that idea as bullshit which over-estimates the political changes introduced by Mrs Thatcher during the 1980s.[/nq]
You cannot over-estimate the importance of the reform of the licensing laws.

-- Paul

http://paulrooney.netfirms.com/myweb/index.htm Updated 13th May 2003

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What is the definition of "reactionary" and "radical" in the political sense? Does anybody know of any previous meanings of the words? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:1]A radical is somebody who wishes to fundamentally change the entire political system by which a country is governed. The ... way they already are!". A reactionary does everything he/she can, in order to oppose the changes proposed by the radical.[/nq]
In my lexicon, that describes a "conservative" reasonably well; one who opposes change on principle. A "reactionary" is an ultra-conservative who seeks to undo changes to return to a previous state of affairs.

(...)

-- rzed

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]In Britain during the early part of the industrial revolution (approx 1790-1832), the radicals wanted to introduce a democratic political system, with a vote for every male citizen over the age of 21.[/nq]
Sexist pigs!

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I hope a similar message does not show up. It seems it takes awhile for apost from me to arrive at most newsgroups.[/nq]
it takes a while

Adrian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I hope a similar message does not show up. It seems it takes awhile for a[/nq]
[nq:1]post[/nq]
[nq:2]from me to arrive at most newsgroups.[/nq]
[nq:1]it takes a while[/nq]
Surely "awhile" is alright in that sentence.

-- Tim Coleman (Email Removed) (43.43 N 80.45 W) BMath, Honours Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo Software Developer * RDBMS Specialist * Linux Zealot "I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." -- Mark Twain

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]In my lexicon, that describes a "conservative" reasonably well; one who opposes change on principle. A "reactionary" is an ultra-conservative who seeks to undo changes to return to a previous state of affairs.[/nq]
In the second definition above, we should probably make clear the "previous state of affairs" is usually imaginary.

-- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) dphillipson(at)trytel.com

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]... it takes a while[/nq]
[nq:1]Surely "awhile" is alright in that sentence.[/nq]
This is an interesting question. I reacted against "awhile" in that context; my dictionary (NSOED) describes it as an adverb, which would rule it out here. But then I checked a couple of grammar books on my shelf, and they both cited "Stay awhile" as good usage. Is that really adverbial? It doesn't strike me that way. I would have said that it's the same construction as "Stay a week", a noun form, where "Stay weekly" would be truly adverbial. So if "Stay awhile" is good, then so is "It takes awhile".

Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2] Surely "awhile" is alright in that sentence.[/nq]
[nq:1]This is an interesting question. I reacted against "awhile" in that context; my dictionary (NSOED) describes it as an adverb, ... form, where "Stay weekly" would be truly adverbial. So if "Stay awhile" is good, then so is "It takes awhile".[/nq]
MWCD10: Main Entry: awhile Pronunciation: &-'hwI

l, &-'wI

l Function: adverb Date: before 12th century : for a while usage Although considered a solecism by many commentators, awhile, like several other adverbs of time and place, is often used as the object of a preposition .

I'm one of those who would not use it that way. -- Skitt (in SF Bay Area) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/ I speak English well -- I learn it from a book! -- Manuel (Fawlty Towers)

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