[avmich]

Intellectual conservatism - at least under certain definition - is tricky to defend. When there is a choice between "progress" - moving forward - and "stability" - avoiding changes - staying implies perceived perfection, which doesn't seem particularly intellectual. Progress doesn't just mean "change by all means", but conservation does mean "reject change", otherwise there would be no difference to talk about.

[ethbro]

At least in the American bipolar system, there are many "moving forward" ideas that have traditionally been conservative positions.

Maximizing personal economic freedom and unrestricted international trade, for two.

So I would say there are certainly platform points that are more alternatives than forward vs backwards. Or were.

[antepodius]

You can be conservative in some directions and progressive in others.

[Can_Not]

In some ways conservatism can mean "let's go, but not go too fast" but recently it's been more of an ideology of regression.