Classical Liberalism

Question 1

What are the 4 distinctive features of classical liberalism?

Answer 1

Revolutionary potential
Negative liberty
Minimal state
Laissez-faire capitalism

Question 2

What is negative liberty?

Answer 2

A notion of freedom that involves individuals being left alone to pursue their destiny. Any attempt to interfere with this may be judged as an infringement of liberty.

Question 3

What is a minimal state?

Answer 3

Reflected the notion of negative liberty by minimising state activities.

Question 4

Why would liberals support laissez-faire capitalism?

Answer 4

The ‘invisible hand’ of market forces has a limitless capacity to enrich society and the individuals within it.

Question 5

What is developmental individualism?

Answer 5

Wished to focus on what liberals could become rather than what they had already become

Question 6

What ‘Key Thinkers’ are classical liberals?

Answer 6

John Locke
Mary Woolstonecraft
John Stuart Mill to an extent