Brilliant John Gray interview in the New Statesman.

HighToryPsychic said:

I am a High Tory, supporter of the Aristocratic High state being restored

Does this mean the masses being effectively controlled by the unelected elite who have inherited their positions?

I imagine it does sadly  I asked Meta AI what John Gray's political persuasion is and this is what it said:

*Political persuasion:* John Gray ( author of _Straw Dogs_ ) is generally described as a *pessimistic conservative* or *cultural conservative* with strong *anti‑progressivist*, *skeptical‑liberal* leanings.

| Aspect | Typical characterisation |

|--------|--------------------------|

| *Philosophical stance* | Criticizes Enlightenment rationalism, scientific optimism, and utopian political projects; emphasizes limits of human knowledge and the “tragedy of the human condition.” |

| *Political label* | _Conservative_ (cultural) – often grouped with “reactionary” or “counter‑Enlightenment” thinkers, though he rejects traditional party politics. |

| *Key themes in _Straw Dogs_* | Anti‑progress, anti‑humanism, ecological limits, disillusionment with liberal democracy’s promises. |

| *Self‑description* | Gray describes himself as a *skeptic* of all grand ideologies; he does not align neatly with left‑right spectrum but leans toward a *conservative realism* that values tradition and stability over radical change. |

*Why the label?*

- He critiques liberalism, Marxism, and neoliberalism as “secular religions.”

- He upholds a *pessimistic view of human nature* and the dangers of hubristic attempts to reshape society, which are typical conservative cautionary motifs.

- Yet he does not advocate for a specific party program; his work is more a *philosophical critique* than a political manifesto.

_Sources:_

- Gray, J. (2002). _Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals_. London: Granta.

- Gray, J. (2007). _Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia_. London: Allen Lane.

- Secondary literature: e.g., “John Gray: The Conservative Critic of Liberalism,” _The Guardian_ (2009).

I imagine it does sadly  I asked Meta AI what John Gray's political persuasion is and this is what it said:

*Political persuasion:* John Gray ( author of _Straw Dogs_ ) is generally described as a *pessimistic conservative* or *cultural conservative* with strong *anti‑progressivist*, *skeptical‑liberal* leanings.

| Aspect | Typical characterisation |

|--------|--------------------------|

| *Philosophical stance* | Criticizes Enlightenment rationalism, scientific optimism, and utopian political projects; emphasizes limits of human knowledge and the “tragedy of the human condition.” |

| *Political label* | _Conservative_ (cultural) – often grouped with “reactionary” or “counter‑Enlightenment” thinkers, though he rejects traditional party politics. |

| *Key themes in _Straw Dogs_* | Anti‑progress, anti‑humanism, ecological limits, disillusionment with liberal democracy’s promises. |

| *Self‑description* | Gray describes himself as a *skeptic* of all grand ideologies; he does not align neatly with left‑right spectrum but leans toward a *conservative realism* that values tradition and stability over radical change. |

*Why the label?*

- He critiques liberalism, Marxism, and neoliberalism as “secular religions.”

- He upholds a *pessimistic view of human nature* and the dangers of hubristic attempts to reshape society, which are typical conservative cautionary motifs.

- Yet he does not advocate for a specific party program; his work is more a *philosophical critique* than a political manifesto.

_Sources:_

- Gray, J. (2002). _Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals_. London: Granta.

- Gray, J. (2007). _Black Mass: Apocalyptic Religion and the Death of Utopia_. London: Allen Lane.

- Secondary literature: e.g., “John Gray: The Conservative Critic of Liberalism,” _The Guardian_ (2009).