Liberalism Essay plans all questions:
1. To what extent do liberals agree on Individualism
Introduction:
There is more agreement than disagreement among liberals on the
importance of individualism.
Liberals broadly agree on the centrality of the individual but diverge on
whether this entails negative liberty and egoism (classical) or
developmental potential and state support (modern).
Paragraph 1 – Moral worth of the individual
Point: All liberals believe the individual has inherent value and moral
autonomy.
Evidence: Locke – “Every Man has a Property in his own Person.”; Kant – “A
man is an end to himself”.
Analysis: These quotes reflect foundational and universal liberal
assumptions about human dignity and self-ownership.
Counter: Modern liberals extend this to a more developmental view, e.g.,
individuality.
Evidence: Mill: “Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.”
Analysis: Emphasises growth and higher pleasures over basic self-interest;
introduces a value judgement.
Evaluation: While aims differ, there’s clear philosophical agreement on
individual primacy.
Paragraph 2 – State’s role in protecting the individual
Point: Classical liberals support negative freedom and minimal state
intervention to protect individual rights.
Evidence: Locke’s “life, liberty and property” as natural rights.
Analysis: State is a nightwatchman, there to prevent interference and
preserve freedom.
Counter: Modern liberals believe a more active state is necessary to
protect and enable individual development.
Evidence: T.H. Green’s positive freedom – “freedom is not the absence of
restraint, but the power to do.”
Analysis: Enabling state provides tools (education, healthcare) to realise
individuality.
Evaluation: They disagree on method, but still agree the state exists to
serve individual flourishing.
Paragraph 3 – Individualism and society
, Point: Classical liberals promote atomistic society – individual before
collective.
Evidence: Bentham: “The care of his enjoyments ought to be left almost
entirely to the individual.”
Analysis: Reflects egoistical individualism and a suspicious view of
collectivism.
Counter: Modern liberals favour developmental individualism, seeing
social connections as enabling.
Evidence: Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique shows how structural
inequality restricts self-actualisation.
Analysis: Society can empower, not hinder, the individual.
Evaluation: Concept of individualism endures, but is framed differently
across strands.
Conclusion:
Liberals broadly agree on individualism’s centrality, but differ on how it
should be supported.
Though modern liberals reinterpret classical ideas, the shared foundation
of individual moral worth remains dominant.
2. To what extent do liberals agree on Freedom
Introduction:
There is less agreement than disagreement among liberals on the nature
of freedom.
Although all liberals value liberty, they diverge on what constitutes
genuine freedom – negative liberty vs positive liberty.
Paragraph 1 – Agreement on importance of liberty
Point: All liberals believe liberty is essential to human flourishing and
progress.
Evidence: Kant – Enlightenment is “man’s emergence from his self-
imposed immaturity.”
Analysis: Freedom to use reason is key to liberal thought; liberty enables
personal development.
Counter: Agreement ends at principle – definitions of liberty vary
significantly.
Evidence: Isaiah Berlin’s distinction between ‘freedom from’ (negative)
and ‘freedom to’ (positive).
Analysis: This is the fault line between classical and modern liberal
understandings.
Evaluation: Value liberty equally, but define and implement it differently.
Paragraph 2 – Harm principle and negative freedom
1. To what extent do liberals agree on Individualism
Introduction:
There is more agreement than disagreement among liberals on the
importance of individualism.
Liberals broadly agree on the centrality of the individual but diverge on
whether this entails negative liberty and egoism (classical) or
developmental potential and state support (modern).
Paragraph 1 – Moral worth of the individual
Point: All liberals believe the individual has inherent value and moral
autonomy.
Evidence: Locke – “Every Man has a Property in his own Person.”; Kant – “A
man is an end to himself”.
Analysis: These quotes reflect foundational and universal liberal
assumptions about human dignity and self-ownership.
Counter: Modern liberals extend this to a more developmental view, e.g.,
individuality.
Evidence: Mill: “Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.”
Analysis: Emphasises growth and higher pleasures over basic self-interest;
introduces a value judgement.
Evaluation: While aims differ, there’s clear philosophical agreement on
individual primacy.
Paragraph 2 – State’s role in protecting the individual
Point: Classical liberals support negative freedom and minimal state
intervention to protect individual rights.
Evidence: Locke’s “life, liberty and property” as natural rights.
Analysis: State is a nightwatchman, there to prevent interference and
preserve freedom.
Counter: Modern liberals believe a more active state is necessary to
protect and enable individual development.
Evidence: T.H. Green’s positive freedom – “freedom is not the absence of
restraint, but the power to do.”
Analysis: Enabling state provides tools (education, healthcare) to realise
individuality.
Evaluation: They disagree on method, but still agree the state exists to
serve individual flourishing.
Paragraph 3 – Individualism and society
, Point: Classical liberals promote atomistic society – individual before
collective.
Evidence: Bentham: “The care of his enjoyments ought to be left almost
entirely to the individual.”
Analysis: Reflects egoistical individualism and a suspicious view of
collectivism.
Counter: Modern liberals favour developmental individualism, seeing
social connections as enabling.
Evidence: Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique shows how structural
inequality restricts self-actualisation.
Analysis: Society can empower, not hinder, the individual.
Evaluation: Concept of individualism endures, but is framed differently
across strands.
Conclusion:
Liberals broadly agree on individualism’s centrality, but differ on how it
should be supported.
Though modern liberals reinterpret classical ideas, the shared foundation
of individual moral worth remains dominant.
2. To what extent do liberals agree on Freedom
Introduction:
There is less agreement than disagreement among liberals on the nature
of freedom.
Although all liberals value liberty, they diverge on what constitutes
genuine freedom – negative liberty vs positive liberty.
Paragraph 1 – Agreement on importance of liberty
Point: All liberals believe liberty is essential to human flourishing and
progress.
Evidence: Kant – Enlightenment is “man’s emergence from his self-
imposed immaturity.”
Analysis: Freedom to use reason is key to liberal thought; liberty enables
personal development.
Counter: Agreement ends at principle – definitions of liberty vary
significantly.
Evidence: Isaiah Berlin’s distinction between ‘freedom from’ (negative)
and ‘freedom to’ (positive).
Analysis: This is the fault line between classical and modern liberal
understandings.
Evaluation: Value liberty equally, but define and implement it differently.
Paragraph 2 – Harm principle and negative freedom
