Tributes paid to Sir Roger Scruton

The Cambridge-educated writer and philosopher, who published more than 50 books on philosophy, aesthetics and politics, has died at the age of 75.

A student at Jesus College (1962-65 and 1967-1969), he went on to become a research fellow in aesthetics at Peterhouse (1969-71) gaining a PhD in philosophy in 1972.

Sir Roger, who was diagnosed with cancer last summer, died on Sunday (January 12) surrounded by his family.

A statement on his website said: “His family are hugely proud of him and of all his achievements.”

Further tributes came from Prime Minister Boris Johnson who called him the country’s “greatest modern conservative thinker,” while Chancellor Sajid Javid said that “he made a unique contribution to public life.”

Sir Roger, who was knighted by in 2016 for services to philosophy, teaching and public education, was a fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature. He also taught in both England and America.

In 2000, Sir Roger told The Guardian that he became a conservative after witnessing the 1968 Paris riots: "I suddenly realised I was on the other side. What I saw was an unruly mob of self-indulgent middle-class hooligans.

"When I asked my friends what they wanted, what were they trying to achieve, all I got back was this ludicrous Marxist gobbledegook. I was disgusted by it, and thought there must be a way back to the defence of western civilisation against these things.

"That’s when I became a conservative. I knew I wanted to conserve things rather than pull them down."