IdeologiesIdeologies

Q. Why are they so important?Q. Why are they so important? A. They guide the beliefs and conduct of A. They guide the beliefs and conduct of

statesmen, political thinkers and ordinary statesmen, political thinkers and ordinary citizens.citizens.

Classical Liberalism 17Classical Liberalism 17thth – 19 – 19thth C C

Arose in opposition to “divine rights of Arose in opposition to “divine rights of Kings”. Liberals sought to limit the power of Kings”. Liberals sought to limit the power of the state and maximize the rights of the the state and maximize the rights of the individual against arbitrary rule.individual against arbitrary rule.

John Locke (1632 – 1704): John Locke (1632 – 1704): Two Treatises of GovernmentTwo Treatises of Government. Challenged . Challenged Thomas Hobbes’ notion that the state needs Thomas Hobbes’ notion that the state needs to be all-powerful in order to maintain peace, to be all-powerful in order to maintain peace, security and order within societies.security and order within societies.

Classical Liberalism cont…Classical Liberalism cont…

Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) Adam Smith (1723 – 1790) The Theory of Moral SentimentsThe Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), and (1759), and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the WealAn Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsth of Nations (1776). Argued for “free markets” inside and (1776). Argued for “free markets” inside and between countries. Selfish, private interests play between countries. Selfish, private interests play out to produce socially optimal outcomes. Other out to produce socially optimal outcomes. Other classical liberals include: David Ricardo, David classical liberals include: David Ricardo, David Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant Hume, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant and Baron de Montesquieu, Tom Paine and the and Baron de Montesquieu, Tom Paine and the Founding Fathers.Founding Fathers.

The main tenets of Classical The main tenets of Classical LiberalismLiberalism

1.1. Individual liberty (politics, economics, Individual liberty (politics, economics, religion). We must restrain institutions that religion). We must restrain institutions that may endanger liberty such as gov’t, may endanger liberty such as gov’t, churches, the army, social conventions. churches, the army, social conventions. Conceived as “negative freedom” i.e., Conceived as “negative freedom” i.e., freedom from.freedom from.

2.2. Human Nature: Man is born ignorant but Human Nature: Man is born ignorant but not wicked. Government is the “necessary not wicked. Government is the “necessary evil” (Thomas Paine).evil” (Thomas Paine).

Main tenets of Classical Liberalism Main tenets of Classical Liberalism cont…cont…

3.3. Reason: Reason van solve our problems. Reason: Reason van solve our problems. Institutions that demand obedience to Institutions that demand obedience to authority on the basis of reverence for authority on the basis of reverence for tradition, revelation or faith, rather than tradition, revelation or faith, rather than reason are threats to social progress.reason are threats to social progress.

4.4. Progress: By expanding knowledge, Progress: By expanding knowledge, allowing debate, improving economic allowing debate, improving economic conditions, banish superstition and eliminate conditions, banish superstition and eliminate old attitudes etc… mankind will advance.old attitudes etc… mankind will advance.

Main tenets of CL cont…Main tenets of CL cont…

5.5. Equality: Of opportunity rather than Equality: Of opportunity rather than outcome. They wished to extend the rights outcome. They wished to extend the rights of citizenship to the “responsible” men and of citizenship to the “responsible” men and classes i.e., property qualifications as well classes i.e., property qualifications as well as gender ones.as gender ones.

6. 6. Universalism: The rights of men are Universalism: The rights of men are universal or human rights. All societies could universal or human rights. All societies could benefit from liberalism.benefit from liberalism.

Main tenets of CL cont…Main tenets of CL cont…

7.7. Government: The single most important Government: The single most important requirement of government is the protection requirement of government is the protection of citizens’ life, liberty and property.of citizens’ life, liberty and property.

8. 8. Economic freedom: The other side of Economic freedom: The other side of political freedom. They were against state political freedom. They were against state monopolies and espoused “free market” monopolies and espoused “free market” principles.principles.