Liberalism

What is Liberalism?

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Liberalism is an ideology, it believes:
 Human nature: egotistical/ self interest
 Freedom: individual autonomy
 Society: Individualistic (but should tolerate each other)

What is classical liberalism?

 It is a tradition within Liberalism which that seeks to maximise the realm of

unconstrained individual action typically by establishing a minimal state and reliance on
market economy

Origins

The feudal system

1. Kings
2. Nobles
3. Peasants: They were ‘serfs’ worked for nobles. They had no concept of individual, limited
choice and strict hierarchy

Industrial Capitalism (17th Century – 19th Century)

This created:

 Industrial responsibility
 Rural or urban industrial choices

This is when LIBERALISM EMERGED- RESPONSE TO SOCIAL CHANGE!!

 Enlightenment challenged ‘divine right’

 The idea of ‘natural rights’ for all individuals
 Classical liberal thinkers:
- Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804)
- John Locke (1632- 1704)

Fundamental aspects of Liberalism (both classical and modern)

 Human nature is rational

- Rationalism (the belief that knowledge flows from reason than tradition or faith)
- Emerged during the Enlightenment. It:
- Strengthened the faith in both individual and freedom- humans are rational, thinking
creatures > capable of pursuing their own interests
- Oppose paternalism
- ‘the power of reason’ – gives humans being capacity to change their own lives
- Rational humans should be able to resolve disagreemens through peaceful discussion
and debate without resorting to violence

 Individualism: rights and interests of every individual is primary

- Was written in the notes before
  Freedom: rational individuals deserve economic, social and political freedom
o Freedom (the ability to think or act as one wishes)
o For early liberals > natural rights ( life, liberty and property)
o Individuals to make their own choices
o ‘Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign’ – J.S
Mill
o Two freedoms: Negative and Positive

How do classical liberals view…?

Role of the state: minimal state interference- This is because state is regarded ‘necessary evil’
– imposes collective will on society

The states proper role is to:

 Maintain domestic order

 Protection of civil liberties ( negative freedom)
 Negative Freedom is the absence of external restrictions or constraints on the
individual, allowing freedom of choice

Free market: the free market should have NO state intervention (laissez faire)

 This is because it should let individuals succeed/fail in the market on his/her own merits
 Adam Smith

Human Nature: egotistical (self- interested) – Locke

 Humans should be self-reliant

 Although everyone should tolerate each other

Freedom: an inalienable right (life, liberty and property)

 Seen as an essential requirement for truly human existence

 Freedom is only limited to the harm principle
 Splits into: negative freedom (classical) and positive freedom (modern)

Individual: This is the MOST important concept of Liberalism

 Individual is the primary importance

 Believes in egotistical individualism
 Atomistic society- all individuals are self – interested
 Methodological individualism – construct a mechanic society which is planned
 Does not like collectivism > Tyranny of the majority

Equality

 Everyone of equal and moral worth

 Everyone has natural rights (life, liberty and property)
 Inequalities of wealth, social position, and political power inevitable
 William Sumner (1840-1910) ‘the drunkard in the gutter is just where he ought to be’
  Political inequality – Mill believed those with education and property rights should have
more votes than those who don’t

Diversity and Toleration (accept diversity)

 Should be tolerant as we are all equal

 Believes in the good of personal autonomy
 According to Locke, toleration should be extended to all matters
 Willingness to accept forms of behaviour/beliefs which one dislikes
 Voltaire (1694- 1778) ‘I may detest what you say, but I will defend to the death your
right to say it’
 Associated with rationalism

Key Principles of classical liberalism

 Natural rights
 Utilitarianism
 Economic liberalism
 Social Darwinism
 Neo- liberalism

Natural rights (God given rights to human being which are entitled to humans)

 All humans have natural rights for merely being humans

 Right to ‘life, liberty and property’ – John Locke
 Social contract between government and the people
 The purpose of the state to protect individuals ‘natural rights’

Utilitarianism (moral philosophy- the greater happiness’ principle)

 Maximise pleasure and minimise pain

 Influenced classical liberalism- each individual able to perceive their own best interests

Key Classical liberal thinkers FR= French Revolution

John Locke (1632- 1704) (BFR)

 ‘Founder’ of Liberalism
 Promote civil interests: life, liberty and health
 Tolerate of different religions
 Highly critical of monarch having ‘divine rights’
 People give consent to government – Social contract theory

Voltaire (1694- 1778) (BFR)

 Highly critical of the Church and its role

 Freedom of expression ‘I may detest what you say but I will defend to the death your
right to say it’

Jeremy Bentham (1748- 1832) FR

 Did not believe ‘natural rights’ are inalienable – ‘nonsense on stilts’

 Believed it had to be written in a legal contract
  Humans are self- interested creatures and the best judge of morality

John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873) AFR

 Opposed state intervention

 Stressed importance of individuality

What is Modern Liberalism?

 It is a tradition within Liberalism that provides (in contrast) a qualified endorsement for
social and economic intervention as a means of promoting personal development

Origins

 Spurred from industrialisation

 Developed from the 19th century
 Difficult to believe industrial capitalism brought prosperity and liberty for all – it gives
the people the ‘freedom to starve’ – John Rawls

Modern Liberalism criticises Classical liberalism

 Does ‘laissez faire’ capitalism promote general prosperity? (creates poverty > working
class is poor)
 Does egoism produce social justice? (outcomes> poverty, illiteracy, the ‘haves’ and the
‘have nots’
 Liberal ideas of the state therefore EVOLVED
 Welfare : Helps the people to help themselves

Role of the state

 State should act as a vehicle to enhance liberty

 This is to create positive freedom through state intervention
 The welfare state: ‘help people to help themselves’
 Provide social contracts which individuals are able to prosper e.g. education, health
etc.

Free market: would lead to survival of the fittest= NOT GOOD!

 ‘laissez faire’ rejected as increasingly complex with inability to guarantee general

prosperity
 Needs a ‘mixed economy’ because unregulated free market leads to poverty, inequality
and injustice
 Freedom of choice in the marketplace inadequate conception of individual freedom

Freedom: Believes in positive freedom

 Negative freedom promotes ‘survival of the fittest’- undermining equal opportunity

 State provides ‘positive freedom’ which enables individuals to ‘self-actualise’ and
personal development
 Equality of opportunity = freedom
Individual

 Still regarded as fundamental

 The value of liberty- enables individuals to develop, to gain talents, skills and knowledge
– humans to flourish
 State ‘helps’ the individual
 T.H Green believed everyone has a social obligation to help each other
 More optimistic view of nature
 Society has the potential to progress collectively to provide all individuals to take
advantage of their freedom

Equality

 Encourages ‘equality of opportunity’ – which state should provide

 Wants to reduce social equality – help those in poverty

Believes inequality leads to less freedom

Diversity and Toleration

 Toleration of racial, sexual, religious cultures

 Believed in social justice- no one should discriminate

Key Modern liberal thinkers

Thomas H. Green (1836- 82) AFR

 Highlighted the limitations of ‘laissez faire’

 Argued humans are ‘social’ creatures > welfare of social justice
 His idea of ‘positive freedom’ had a MAJOR influence on modern liberalism

John Rawls (1921- 2002)

 Developed theory ‘justice as fairness’ based on the belief that behind ‘the veil of
ignorance’ most people accept liberty of each should be compatible with a like liberty for
all
 Social inequality justified if it benefits the poorest of society

Key Principles of Modern Liberalism

 Individuality
 Positive freedom
 Social liberalism
 Economic management

Liberal Democracy: Although they dislike concentrations of power, they try to keep this as
minimal as possible

How do liberals ensure liberal democracy?

 Constitutionalism :enforce rules which limit government

 Rule of law: everyone equal – fair and impartial
 Bicameralism: two houses in legislature to check each other’s power
  Separation of powers: state, executive, judicial should be separate institutions
 Private Property: economic wealth not monopolised by state/ or few individuals or
companies
 Political inequality: electoral systems= one vote, one value, one person
 Civil liberties: legal guarantees to protect essential rights and freedom
 Decentralisation: political power exercised as close to the individual – federal
government
 Equal opportunity: every individual same access and chance of economic success
 Open Gov. and society: official info should be publicly available

Why do Liberals disagree with democracy?

 Democracy = majoritarian system= tyranny of majority

 They believe it is collectivist- opposes individuality
 Power corrupts because self-interested individuals will inevitably use it to further their
own interests and to oppress and exploit others in process; and the more power they
have, the more they will abuse you

Why do Liberals disagree with democracy?

 ‘The social contract is the foundation of the general will and the answer to the problem
of natural freedom, because nature itself provides no guidelines for determining who
should rule’ – Jean Jacque Rousseau
 Whole range of doctrines> restrain popular rule and prevent government from reflecting
the direct will of the majority
 Democracy> Political participation> educational advantage> enhance democracy> achieve
higher level of development
 Consent is necessary for such legitimacy