Classical liberalism

• Based on rationalist principles

  And sees state intervention as an unnecessary barrier to individuals freedom and ability to express their own identities.
• Key thinkers:

  1. John Locke (1632-1704)
  2. Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)
  3. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
• Human nature:

  classical liberals believed that humans are rational and tolerant beings. Most believed that these traits allow humans to live peacefully and productively without the need of an overbearing state.

  
  

  1. Locke - advocated that religious tolerance to allow individuals to express their 'personal identity'. Believed people were fundamentally moral and capable of disagreeing peacefully.
  2. Mill - first MP to speak in favour of women's suffrage. Harm principles states people should have complete liberty over self-regarding actions, but should not use freedom to inflict harm in other regarding actions.
  3. Wollstonecraft - argued that society needed to become more tolerant of women's interests
• State:

  Locke developed a visions of the social contract

  The social contract is an imaginary agreement between citizens and the state in which individuals consent to give up some of their liberty in return for protection.

  • liberal thinkers accept Locke's idea that political power should be legitimised by the state

  related to two theories:

  1. Mechanistic theory - the concept that the state is a m means of preserving individual liberty.
  2. Fiduciary power of the government - concept that political power should only be used for the benefit of society, not for the self interests of representatives.
• Society:

  Believed formal equality is sufficient for allowing all individuals to thrive in society.

  1. Mill advocated developmental individualism, where individuals use their liberty to develop themselves. Mill thought people should use their freedom to discover what he calls higher pleasures, such as music, science, art and poetry.

  • this would have dual benefits of enabling individuals to self-actualise while also contributing to social progress.
  • he wrote that it's "better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied". Meaning that individuals should push themselves beyond their intellectual comfort zones.
• Role of women - Mary Wollstonecraft:

  She believed women had the responsibility to educate themselves so they would enjoy equal social status to men.

  • she wrote that "intellect will always govern" and that women's "neglected education" had allowed the development of the 'tyranny of men'.
  • she placed significant responsibility on women themselves to improve their position in society. However she also believed that the state should extend formal equality to women - particularly in relation to suffrage, property rights and representation.
• Economy:

  Laissez-faire capitalism is the most effective economic system for presenting individual liberty.

  • wealth and property are created by individuals
  • taxation should be kept to a minimum to avoid infringing on the natural right to property.