1. To what extent do classical and modern liberals agree over individual freedom?
In the ECONOMY but agree on CAPITALISM
ROLE OF STATE DISAGREE- NEGATIVE vs POSITIVE FREEDOM but agree on
GOV BY CONSENT AND TOLERATION
HUMAN NATURE GUIDING FREEDOM
POINT: Individual freedom based on human nature- disagree
Classical liberals believe that these are innate traits of human nature, modern
liberals believe more that these are potential traits of human nature, to be
enhanced by the state. Can be hindered by socio-economic factors.
EVIDENCE:
- Betty Friedan believed that the individual fulfilment of women was
hampered by gender (“Feminine Mystique”) as they were confined to the
domain of the home. Disagrees with the idea that individual freedom is
innate and accessible in all humans.
COUNTERPOINT: Agree on individual freedom based on human nature
All strands of liberalism are rooted in the idea that humans are rational, and thus
can be trusted to be largely left to their own devices
EVIDENCE:
- Locke’s idea that humans are rational
- Wollestonecraft’s main argument that the enlightenment “age of reason”
arguments applied to all humans, male and female.
- Rawles' veil of ignorance theory is also based in the idea of human
rationality- rational humans would choose to be born into an equal world if
we had no idea where we would end up.
JUDGEMENT: Whilst modern liberals believe that individual freedom is often
curtailed by socio-economic factors, and must be enhanced by enlightened and
liberal authorities, all strands of liberalism believe in the concept of individual
freedom rooted in their belief of human nature as rational.
POINT: Individual freedom in the economy- disagree
EVIDENCE:
- Modern Liberals belief that in times of crisis, government should intervene
in the economy- Keynesian ideas of economics e.g post Wall Street Crash.
Unmoderated capitalism hinders the freedom of the poorest, and thus free
markets should be tempered to avoid recessions, protect jobs.
- Classical liberals, however, believe that laissez faire economy (eg Adam
Smith belief of the “invisible hand” to regulate the economy)- provides the
best capacity to enrich individual freedom, as people have limitless choice
of product, employment, investment. Less government regulation and a
minimal state in economic intervention enhances individual freedom.
COUNTERPOINT: Agree on individual freedom in the economy
Agreement that capitalism is the best economic system through which individual
freedom can be expressed
EVIDENCE:
, - Locke considered private property a “natural right”
- Mill- Laissez Faire capitalism best for enhancing individual initiative,
fulfilment, choice.
- Even modern liberal politicians such as Obama, who are proponents of
greater state intervention in economy, promote capitalism as the source of
individual innovation.
JUDGEMENT: Whilst modern liberals have adapted the idea of Laissez Faire
capitalism favoured by classical liberals, all liberals are united in their belief in
capitalism as the best economic model, as free markets promote individual choices
of products, employment and what to spend money on.
POINT: Disagree on the role of the state in relation to individual freedom-
NEGATIVE VS POSITIVE FREEDOM
EVIDENCE:
- Modern liberals such as Rawles believe that the state has a responsibility
to intervene in the lives of individuals in order to enforce foundational
equality- his “veil of ignorance” theory. Hobbes and Hobson believe that
only an enlarged state can create the conditions needed to fulfil individual
liberty, T H Green laid the foundations for the enabling state. POSITIVE
FREEDOM. Individuals left alone are inhibited by socio-economic
problems, not free.
- JS Mill disagrees- “harm principle”- individual actions and freedoms should
only be infringed upon by the state if they are causing harm to someone
else- infringing on someone else’s individual liberties. NEGATIVE
FREEDOM- Jefferson “government is best that governs least”
- Locke’s mechanistic theory- people before a state were rational, existed
fine. State only exists as a “night watchman” role to protect natural rights
such as life, liberty and property.
COUNTERPOINT: Agree on the role of the state in relation to individual
freedom
EVIDENCE:
All agree that the state should be tolerant and not interfere in the personal lives of
the people. Government by consent protects individual freedoms
- Locke’s idea of toleration- represents personal autonomy and freedom,
allows individual moral self development, idea that gov has no right to
meddle in something that is as personal as religion.
- Government by consent is agreed on between the strands- state is
necessary to protect individual freedoms. (“necessary evil” in the eyes of
Classical liberals, Montequieu checks and balances, modern lib demand in
UK for a codified constitution)
JUDGEMENT: Whilst they disagree on the role of the state in enforcing and
enabling individual liberty, all strands of liberalism believe individual freedom to be
the most sacrosanct principle. Modern liberal belief in state intervention is simply
rooted in the classical liberal idea of self fulfilment, adapted to modern times- they
believe that state intervention to create true foundational equality will aid individual
liberty and self fulfilment as people are able to overcome socio-economic barriers
of birth in order to achieve things.
In the ECONOMY but agree on CAPITALISM
ROLE OF STATE DISAGREE- NEGATIVE vs POSITIVE FREEDOM but agree on
GOV BY CONSENT AND TOLERATION
HUMAN NATURE GUIDING FREEDOM
POINT: Individual freedom based on human nature- disagree
Classical liberals believe that these are innate traits of human nature, modern
liberals believe more that these are potential traits of human nature, to be
enhanced by the state. Can be hindered by socio-economic factors.
EVIDENCE:
- Betty Friedan believed that the individual fulfilment of women was
hampered by gender (“Feminine Mystique”) as they were confined to the
domain of the home. Disagrees with the idea that individual freedom is
innate and accessible in all humans.
COUNTERPOINT: Agree on individual freedom based on human nature
All strands of liberalism are rooted in the idea that humans are rational, and thus
can be trusted to be largely left to their own devices
EVIDENCE:
- Locke’s idea that humans are rational
- Wollestonecraft’s main argument that the enlightenment “age of reason”
arguments applied to all humans, male and female.
- Rawles' veil of ignorance theory is also based in the idea of human
rationality- rational humans would choose to be born into an equal world if
we had no idea where we would end up.
JUDGEMENT: Whilst modern liberals believe that individual freedom is often
curtailed by socio-economic factors, and must be enhanced by enlightened and
liberal authorities, all strands of liberalism believe in the concept of individual
freedom rooted in their belief of human nature as rational.
POINT: Individual freedom in the economy- disagree
EVIDENCE:
- Modern Liberals belief that in times of crisis, government should intervene
in the economy- Keynesian ideas of economics e.g post Wall Street Crash.
Unmoderated capitalism hinders the freedom of the poorest, and thus free
markets should be tempered to avoid recessions, protect jobs.
- Classical liberals, however, believe that laissez faire economy (eg Adam
Smith belief of the “invisible hand” to regulate the economy)- provides the
best capacity to enrich individual freedom, as people have limitless choice
of product, employment, investment. Less government regulation and a
minimal state in economic intervention enhances individual freedom.
COUNTERPOINT: Agree on individual freedom in the economy
Agreement that capitalism is the best economic system through which individual
freedom can be expressed
EVIDENCE:
, - Locke considered private property a “natural right”
- Mill- Laissez Faire capitalism best for enhancing individual initiative,
fulfilment, choice.
- Even modern liberal politicians such as Obama, who are proponents of
greater state intervention in economy, promote capitalism as the source of
individual innovation.
JUDGEMENT: Whilst modern liberals have adapted the idea of Laissez Faire
capitalism favoured by classical liberals, all liberals are united in their belief in
capitalism as the best economic model, as free markets promote individual choices
of products, employment and what to spend money on.
POINT: Disagree on the role of the state in relation to individual freedom-
NEGATIVE VS POSITIVE FREEDOM
EVIDENCE:
- Modern liberals such as Rawles believe that the state has a responsibility
to intervene in the lives of individuals in order to enforce foundational
equality- his “veil of ignorance” theory. Hobbes and Hobson believe that
only an enlarged state can create the conditions needed to fulfil individual
liberty, T H Green laid the foundations for the enabling state. POSITIVE
FREEDOM. Individuals left alone are inhibited by socio-economic
problems, not free.
- JS Mill disagrees- “harm principle”- individual actions and freedoms should
only be infringed upon by the state if they are causing harm to someone
else- infringing on someone else’s individual liberties. NEGATIVE
FREEDOM- Jefferson “government is best that governs least”
- Locke’s mechanistic theory- people before a state were rational, existed
fine. State only exists as a “night watchman” role to protect natural rights
such as life, liberty and property.
COUNTERPOINT: Agree on the role of the state in relation to individual
freedom
EVIDENCE:
All agree that the state should be tolerant and not interfere in the personal lives of
the people. Government by consent protects individual freedoms
- Locke’s idea of toleration- represents personal autonomy and freedom,
allows individual moral self development, idea that gov has no right to
meddle in something that is as personal as religion.
- Government by consent is agreed on between the strands- state is
necessary to protect individual freedoms. (“necessary evil” in the eyes of
Classical liberals, Montequieu checks and balances, modern lib demand in
UK for a codified constitution)
JUDGEMENT: Whilst they disagree on the role of the state in enforcing and
enabling individual liberty, all strands of liberalism believe individual freedom to be
the most sacrosanct principle. Modern liberal belief in state intervention is simply
rooted in the classical liberal idea of self fulfilment, adapted to modern times- they
believe that state intervention to create true foundational equality will aid individual
liberty and self fulfilment as people are able to overcome socio-economic barriers
of birth in order to achieve things.
