To what extent do modern liberals accept the ideas of classical liberals
Key: All liberals Classical Liberals Modern Liberals
Introduction
Liberalism is the product of the breakdown of feudalism in Europe and reflected the
aspirations of the rising middle class whose interests conflicted with the absolute monarchy
American and French Revolutions both embodied elements that were distinctively liberal
There are two forms of liberalism – classical liberalism and modern liberalism
- Classical liberalism is the desire to minimize government interference in the lives of the
citizens
- Modern liberalism is associated with welfare provision and economic management
There are classical liberal ideas that modern liberals accept, however I argue that modern
liberals tend to stray away from classical liberal ideas
I shall analyse these differences and similarities in 3 areas; human nature, the state, and
society
Human Nature
All liberals believe that humans are reason guided creatures, capable of self-development,
so liberalism remains very much part of the Enlightenment project
Enlightenment project is an academic movement that challenges traditional beliefs in
politics and religion in the name of reason and progress
Human beings are rational thinking creatures and a faith in reason inclines liberals to believe
that conflict can resolved by debate and discussion, greatly reducing the need for force
Classical liberalists such as Jeremy Bentham and James Mill believe in utilitarianism; people
are motivated by self-interests which can be calculated in terms of utility.
Modern liberals such as John Stuart Mill find the notion of human beings to be utility
maximisers shallow and unconvincing
- He was concerned not with simple pleasure seeking, but with personal self-development
- He laid the foundations for developmental individualism which placed emphasis on
human flourishing and not the crude satisfaction of interests
The State
All liberals believe in the social contract theory which was a theory created by classical
liberalist John Locke
- He argued that no one can be subject to the authority of anyone else, establishing the
principle of a limited government
All liberals are also aware of the dangers of government, as governments could be potential
tyrannies
- Thus liberals support limited government achieved through constitutionalism
(Montesquieu’s separation of powers) and democracy
Classical liberals believe that the government has a limited role
- John Locke said the government’s role is purely to protect our natural rights; the right to
life, liberty, and property
- If rights are protected, the citizens should respect government
- If rights are violated, citizens can rebel
- Locke approved of the English Revolution
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