Liberalism Ideology

Human nature

• Rejecting the idea that human nature is flawed. See individuals as enlightened, rational and capable of self improvement. 

• John Locke and JS Mill both argued that people can use their rationality to achieve goals for themselves and society

• People can reach rational conclusions through tolerance, reasoned arguments 

• Individuals naturally self seeking and likely to act in self interest. 

• Individuals are competitive but consider others interests.

• State of nature - natural conflicts between individuals and groups, state exists to reduce that 

• Law established should be based on liberal concept and protect life, liberty, property

• State should improve tolerance

• State should promote democracy

• State should promote meritocracy

• Constitutional gov should replace arbitrary gov or monarchy

• Limited power of government - separation of powers

• Government by consent.

• Under rule of law people have foundational equality

• State should tolerate and protect the interests of minorities

• Role of state should be limited to protecting individual freedoms 

• State should protect property rights

• States primary role is to protect from external threat

• State shouldnt interferre with economic activity except to regulate monopoly powers

• Gov should use representative not direct democracy to avoid tyranny of the majority

• State should promote equality of opportunity

• State should organise welfare 

• Promotion of Social justice

• A long as state respects natural rights and natural law it will also be a natural state  which will rule a natural society 

• A natural society humans will obey laws which ensure sympathy and tolerance

• Society should promote freedom and cultural, economic, intellectual progress. 

• In a truly free society those with ability will prosper and rise to top - meritocracy

• Private property ownership is a natural right. 

• Adam Smith influence - free market would promote economic activity and wealth creation

• Economic liberty is synonymous with liberty in general

• Capitalism and free trade will lead to creation of wealth.

• Based on negative freedom, the highest form of freedom is freedom from constraint. Eg freedom from gov, and then also crime etc

• Based on the idea of minimal state, confined to defending nation, law and order and protecting markets from monopoly power. 

• Equal rights extend to all sections of society other than those who may threaten society. 

• Laissez faire capitalism

• People succeed or fail due to their effort but cant control their position in society. State should therefore provide welfare for the most vulnerable.

• Positive liberty - the promotion of opportunities for individuals to achieve self realisation. 

• Individuals have a responsibility to help one another 

• State should operate in providing equality of opportunity

• Welfare should be provided to help those with no other means of support

• Equality should be not just foundational but also economic and social treatment - LT Hobhouse & JA Hobson 

• Hobhouse and Hobson also suggested the state should promote social justice further

• Part of the revival of New right ideas in the late 1970’s and 1980’s 

• Free market capitalism is essential for economic and social progress 

• State should not interfere with free markets as this will interfere with wealth creation- support of minimal state

• Oppose dependency culture, where welfare is too freely distributed and people become dependent on them and are no longer economic contributors.

• Support of free trade and globalisation

• Enlightenment thinker 

• Didn’t believe in divine right of kings, rule by consent instead

• Before the state people lived in the state of nature where humans claimed natural law and natural rights

• Laws should follow and confirm natural rights and natural laws. 

• State resulted in a social contract, government subject to consent and in return people agree to obey laws

• Gov should be limited and there should be separation of powers

• Should be tolerance of religious and political views.

• Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

• People were rational and human nature is naturally good

• Women as capable of rational thought as men

• Individualism was essential if society wanted progress culturally and economically

• All citizens should be free to enjoy equality under law and be free from discrimination

• Believed in NEGATIVE LIBERTY - each individual should be free to take whatever choices they choose as long as they do no harm - harm principle

• Distinguished self regarding and other regarding actions, self regarding choices shouldnt be restricted and then other regarding actions should be if they may cause harm to others.

• Individual liberty was essential for the development of the individual in terms of creativity, culture and intellect. 

• If individuals were able to develop their individualism all society would benefit

• Opposed popular democracy where the interests of the few crushed by the majority. So therefore supported representative democracy.

• American philosopher

• Formal equality added the need for equal social and political rights

• If asked he believed people would say they’d prefer a society with little inequality and there is equality of opportunity. 

• His conception of social justice was that inequality in a capitalist system could be justified as long as those who gain the most don't do it at the expense of others

• Strong supporter of individual liberty but insisted freedom of formal social and economic terms should be available to all on an equal basis. 

• Strong belief in individual freedom, and that people should be able to reach their potential. Self realisation was key.

• Women were principal victims of lack of opportunity and life choices. Due to patriarchy and dominant attitudes.

• Adamant that if the state was based on liberal principles then it would  be possible to achieve equality of opportunity.

• Did not see the state as the principal vehicle of patriarchy, blaming dominant cultural attitudes instead.

• Original Liberalism Position that all human beings are naturally rational and will always obey laws, as they see this being in their self interest

• Modern Liberals have a less optimistic view and believe that human beings have the potential to be good and prefer good actions to bad actions. This potential must be nurtured by education and by a free, progressive society.

• Early Liberals & Classic Liberals & Neo-Liberals all emphasise individualism rather than society. An atomistic society that is in pursuit of enlightenment and self- interest. 

• Modern Liberals see society as more organic and believe individuals should act to control their self interest in the pursuit of social cohesion.

• Early Liberals and Neo Liberals favour a free-market economy, free competition and little/no regulation from the state. 

• Modern Liberals believe that free market capitalism leads to too much deprivation and inequality. They then see state interference as justified in order to promote social welfare and social justice

• Early liberals feared the power of the state and saw it as a threat to liberty and believed it would inhibit enterprise and reduce the dynamism of the economy.

• Modern Liberals have accepted an expanded state especially in education, welfare and redistribution of income. This was opposed by modern Neo-Liberals