Liberalism
Human nature
Classical liberalism Modern liberalism
Human Egoistical individualism- view that people Developmental liberalism- view that individual
nature are essentially self-seeking and self-reliant freedom is linked to the desire to create a society
where individuals look after their in which each person can grow and flourish.
own interests ahead of any This concept plays down the pursuit of
collective interest, and therefore self-interest, and has been used to justify
‘society’ does not exist support for some state intervention in
View minimises the importance of society to help the disadvantaged.
society, seeing it as little more than
a collection of independent
individuals.
Immanuel Kant - all individuals are
unique and have equal worth; they Rationalism - human reason.
should always be used as ‘ends’ and It holds that individuals should be free to
never merely as ‘means’. exercise their judgement about their own
interests, without needing to be guided by
Rationalism - human reason. external authorities, such as the state or
It holds that individuals should be church leaders.
free to exercise their judgement People will not always make correct
about their own interests, without decisions, but it is better for them to take
needing to be guided by external responsibility for themselves than to take
authorities, such as the state or instruction from above.
church leaders.
People will not always make correct
decisions, but it is better for them
to take responsibility for
themselves than to take instruction
from above.
Positive freedom - Freedom can be expanded by
Negative freedom (John Stuart Mill) - qualified state intervention in the economy and
individuals should only be subject to society, to widen individual opportunity and
external restraint when their actions liberate citizens from social evils such as poverty
potentially affect others, not when their Many liberals found Mill’s concept of
actions affect only themselves. liberty too limited because it viewed
Freedom can never be absolute but society as little more than a collection of
must be exercised under the law, in independent atoms. NF can amount to
order to protect people from little more than ‘freedom to starve’ for
interfering with each other’s rights- those facing disadvantages over which
John Locke -‘the end of law is not to they have no control
abolish or restrain, but to preserve Positive freedom: individuals should be
and enlarge freedom… where there able to control their own destiny, to
is no law, there is no freedom.’ develop personal talents and achieve self-
logic of negative freedom leads to fulfilment. Some limited state
the rolling back of the state, to intervention was necessary to make this
encourage individuals to take more possible.
responsibility for themselves
Dependence on the state is
damaging because it undermines
, Liberalism
the self-respect of the individual
and saps the spirit of enterprise on
which economic growth depends
Equality of opportunity -the idea that all
Foundational equality- people are born individuals should have equal chances in life to
equal. This implies a belief in formal rise and fall.
equality: individuals should enjoy the same Most modern liberals favour some degree
legal and political rights in society, ensured of state intervention to narrow social
by equality before the law and equal voting inequalities. They believe that true
rights in free and fair elections. equality is not possible without social
Classical liberals believe that justice. However, they do not believe that
individuals with different talents total equality of outcome is either
should be rewarded differently. possible or desirable.
The resulting social inequality is
beneficial for society because it
gives people an incentive to work
hard and make the most of their
abilities. The good society is a
meritocracy – one in which social
position is determined by ability
and effort.
For example William Gladstone, the
British Liberal Prime Minister,
introduced competitive
examinations for entry to the civil
service in the 1870s, bringing to an
end the practice of making
appointments on the basis of
aristocratic connections
P
State
Human nature
Classical liberalism Modern liberalism
Human Egoistical individualism- view that people Developmental liberalism- view that individual
nature are essentially self-seeking and self-reliant freedom is linked to the desire to create a society
where individuals look after their in which each person can grow and flourish.
own interests ahead of any This concept plays down the pursuit of
collective interest, and therefore self-interest, and has been used to justify
‘society’ does not exist support for some state intervention in
View minimises the importance of society to help the disadvantaged.
society, seeing it as little more than
a collection of independent
individuals.
Immanuel Kant - all individuals are
unique and have equal worth; they Rationalism - human reason.
should always be used as ‘ends’ and It holds that individuals should be free to
never merely as ‘means’. exercise their judgement about their own
interests, without needing to be guided by
Rationalism - human reason. external authorities, such as the state or
It holds that individuals should be church leaders.
free to exercise their judgement People will not always make correct
about their own interests, without decisions, but it is better for them to take
needing to be guided by external responsibility for themselves than to take
authorities, such as the state or instruction from above.
church leaders.
People will not always make correct
decisions, but it is better for them
to take responsibility for
themselves than to take instruction
from above.
Positive freedom - Freedom can be expanded by
Negative freedom (John Stuart Mill) - qualified state intervention in the economy and
individuals should only be subject to society, to widen individual opportunity and
external restraint when their actions liberate citizens from social evils such as poverty
potentially affect others, not when their Many liberals found Mill’s concept of
actions affect only themselves. liberty too limited because it viewed
Freedom can never be absolute but society as little more than a collection of
must be exercised under the law, in independent atoms. NF can amount to
order to protect people from little more than ‘freedom to starve’ for
interfering with each other’s rights- those facing disadvantages over which
John Locke -‘the end of law is not to they have no control
abolish or restrain, but to preserve Positive freedom: individuals should be
and enlarge freedom… where there able to control their own destiny, to
is no law, there is no freedom.’ develop personal talents and achieve self-
logic of negative freedom leads to fulfilment. Some limited state
the rolling back of the state, to intervention was necessary to make this
encourage individuals to take more possible.
responsibility for themselves
Dependence on the state is
damaging because it undermines
, Liberalism
the self-respect of the individual
and saps the spirit of enterprise on
which economic growth depends
Equality of opportunity -the idea that all
Foundational equality- people are born individuals should have equal chances in life to
equal. This implies a belief in formal rise and fall.
equality: individuals should enjoy the same Most modern liberals favour some degree
legal and political rights in society, ensured of state intervention to narrow social
by equality before the law and equal voting inequalities. They believe that true
rights in free and fair elections. equality is not possible without social
Classical liberals believe that justice. However, they do not believe that
individuals with different talents total equality of outcome is either
should be rewarded differently. possible or desirable.
The resulting social inequality is
beneficial for society because it
gives people an incentive to work
hard and make the most of their
abilities. The good society is a
meritocracy – one in which social
position is determined by ability
and effort.
For example William Gladstone, the
British Liberal Prime Minister,
introduced competitive
examinations for entry to the civil
service in the 1870s, bringing to an
end the practice of making
appointments on the basis of
aristocratic connections
P
State
