To what extent do modern and classical liberals agree over human nature? You must
use appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer. (24)
Early classical, late classical and modern liberals agree to a large extent on human nature,
however, they disagree on how this nature is best developed. Classical liberals state that
humans are naturally rational, capable of independent decisions and are respectful of others.
This shows a fundamentally optimistic view of human nature. Modern liberals, although they
accept this view, stress that these ‘natural’ qualities are potential and can only develop under
certain conditions, which must be created, such as education and equal rights and opportunities
for all.
There are substantial similarities between classical and modern liberals. All liberals are
optimistic about the capacity for human achievement and self improvement, and see humans as
individuals. Liberalism was created to replace hereditary privilege and the divine right of kings,
so they believe that humans are rational without monarchy and society should be based upon
reason, not religion or tradition. They also agree on the Enlightenment view of humans, which
believes great progress could come from radical thinking. A believer of this view, Rene
Descartes, famously said “cogito ergo sum”, meaning I think, therefore I am. This view believes
that all humans can use reason to make calculated and rational decisions. Some views which
both classical and modern liberals agree on come from John Locke’s book Two Treatises
(1690) and one of them is his ‘mechanistic theory’ which sees mankind as rational and therefore
capable of devising their own state to reflect their needs and protect their freedoms. He argued
that individuals move from a state of nature towards a social contract between the individual and
a higher authority to protect personal freedoms, and the government is created by the people
and can be replaced by the people. Mechanical societies are based on the equal worth of
individuals and are also referred to as a natural society. Another idea of Locke’s which is
accepted by all liberals is his view of ‘natural rights’, which are inalienable and include “life,
liberty and property”. In addition, liberals agree on John Stuart Mill’s view that individuals have
the capacity to plan their own future, relating to the optimistic and rationalistic belief of humans.
Overall, both classical and modern liberals agree with the belief that humans are rational and
can use reason to solve problems and create their own natural state. They have an optimistic
view on human nature and believe that great progress can come from radical thinking.
However, there are two major differences between classical and modern liberals over human
nature. One which is whether the individual qualities of humans are innate or whether they
should be developed. Classical liberals believe that they are innate and that humans are born
with their qualities. As long as there is nothing interfering with the individual’s natural rights, they
will have freedom and be able to see their individual qualities. Early classical liberals such as
Voltaire believed that individual liberty, a crucial natural right, was needed for self-determination
and self-reliance, as well as having a government of consent. Early ‘liberal-feminists’ like Mary
Wollstonecraft argued in her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) that women
shouldn’t be stopped from receiving formal education, so that they could also release their
innate powers of reason. This is negative liberty/freedom- freedom from restraint. Wollstonecraft
also believed that women should not be stopped from owning land or receiving equal legal
equality as they had little legal protection against violence from their husband. They were also
stopped from voting, so they couldn't choose who governed them, even though they were
supposed to be a ‘government of consent’. However, modern liberals say that humans aren’t
innate and that these qualities must be nurtured in order to be fully realised- so the state needs
to help people to develop their individualism. Some early classical liberals started to raise this
as an issue- Wollstonecraft believed that the state needed to intervene to make education
available to both men and women, as well as grant formal equality to women as ‘Such
use appropriate thinkers you have studied to support your answer. (24)
Early classical, late classical and modern liberals agree to a large extent on human nature,
however, they disagree on how this nature is best developed. Classical liberals state that
humans are naturally rational, capable of independent decisions and are respectful of others.
This shows a fundamentally optimistic view of human nature. Modern liberals, although they
accept this view, stress that these ‘natural’ qualities are potential and can only develop under
certain conditions, which must be created, such as education and equal rights and opportunities
for all.
There are substantial similarities between classical and modern liberals. All liberals are
optimistic about the capacity for human achievement and self improvement, and see humans as
individuals. Liberalism was created to replace hereditary privilege and the divine right of kings,
so they believe that humans are rational without monarchy and society should be based upon
reason, not religion or tradition. They also agree on the Enlightenment view of humans, which
believes great progress could come from radical thinking. A believer of this view, Rene
Descartes, famously said “cogito ergo sum”, meaning I think, therefore I am. This view believes
that all humans can use reason to make calculated and rational decisions. Some views which
both classical and modern liberals agree on come from John Locke’s book Two Treatises
(1690) and one of them is his ‘mechanistic theory’ which sees mankind as rational and therefore
capable of devising their own state to reflect their needs and protect their freedoms. He argued
that individuals move from a state of nature towards a social contract between the individual and
a higher authority to protect personal freedoms, and the government is created by the people
and can be replaced by the people. Mechanical societies are based on the equal worth of
individuals and are also referred to as a natural society. Another idea of Locke’s which is
accepted by all liberals is his view of ‘natural rights’, which are inalienable and include “life,
liberty and property”. In addition, liberals agree on John Stuart Mill’s view that individuals have
the capacity to plan their own future, relating to the optimistic and rationalistic belief of humans.
Overall, both classical and modern liberals agree with the belief that humans are rational and
can use reason to solve problems and create their own natural state. They have an optimistic
view on human nature and believe that great progress can come from radical thinking.
However, there are two major differences between classical and modern liberals over human
nature. One which is whether the individual qualities of humans are innate or whether they
should be developed. Classical liberals believe that they are innate and that humans are born
with their qualities. As long as there is nothing interfering with the individual’s natural rights, they
will have freedom and be able to see their individual qualities. Early classical liberals such as
Voltaire believed that individual liberty, a crucial natural right, was needed for self-determination
and self-reliance, as well as having a government of consent. Early ‘liberal-feminists’ like Mary
Wollstonecraft argued in her book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) that women
shouldn’t be stopped from receiving formal education, so that they could also release their
innate powers of reason. This is negative liberty/freedom- freedom from restraint. Wollstonecraft
also believed that women should not be stopped from owning land or receiving equal legal
equality as they had little legal protection against violence from their husband. They were also
stopped from voting, so they couldn't choose who governed them, even though they were
supposed to be a ‘government of consent’. However, modern liberals say that humans aren’t
innate and that these qualities must be nurtured in order to be fully realised- so the state needs
to help people to develop their individualism. Some early classical liberals started to raise this
as an issue- Wollstonecraft believed that the state needed to intervene to make education
available to both men and women, as well as grant formal equality to women as ‘Such
