Evaluate The View That Liberalism Is Primarily Concerned With Individual Freedom Flashcards
(14 cards)
1: freedom vs social equality
Topic sentence
Liberals diverge significantly in their understanding of whether individual freedom should be prioritised above social equality, challenging the view that liberty is liberalism’s overriding concern
1: freedom vs social equality
Classical liberals
-classical liberals adopt a strongly individualist approach, seeing freedom- specifically negative liberty, or freedom from interference - as the cornerstone of a just society
-influenced by Locke’s theory of natural rights, classical liberals argue that individuals are born free and equal, and that liberty involves non-interference by the state in one’s private affairs.
-John Stuart Mill further refined this view with his harm principle, which holds that individual should be free to act as they please unless they harm others.
-from this standpoint, attempting to impose social or economic equality, for instance, through redistribution or welfare- are seen as infringements on personal liberty and property rights, and therefore morally illegitimate.
-classical liberalism, then treats individual freedom not just as a central value, but as the primary concern around which society should be structured
1: freedom vs social equality
Modern liberals
- in contrast modern liberals contend that positive freedom- the ability to act meaningfully and realise one’s potential- is equally, if not more, important.
-T.H Green argued that liberty is not merely the absence of restraint, but the presence of enabling conditions that allow individuals to flourish
-building on this, John Rawls proposed that justice requires more than formal equality: it requires fair equality of opportunity and the redistribution of resources to benefit the least advantaged
-for modern liberals, individual liberty cannot be fully realised in conditions of deep inequality, as poverty and discrimination constrain choice just as much as government coercion does. Thus, social and economic equality are seen as prerequisites for genuine freedom, and state intervention becomes not a threat to liberty, but its necessary guarantor
1: freedom vs social equality
Conclusion
Ultimately, while classical liberals argue that liberalism’s primary goal is to protect individual freedom from interference, modern liberals broaden the purpose of liberalism to include social justice and equality. As a result, the liberal tradition reflects an enduring disagreement: whether freedom stands alone as the primary concern,n or whether it must be redefined and pursued alongside other moral objectives
2: freedom vs economic stability and social order
Topic sentence
Furthermore, internal divisions in liberal thought reveal that liberalism is not always primarily concerned with individual freedom, particularly when other goals such as economic stability or social order are prioritised.
2: freedom vs economic stability and social order
Classical liberals
-classical liberals argue that economic freedom is an essential component of liberty. For Locke, the right to property- including the fruits of one’s labour- is a natural right, and economic freedom allows individuals to thrive independently of state control.
-classical liberals believe that a free market, operating with minimal government interference, allows individuals to compete fairly and succeed based on merit.
-as such, they oppose regulatory interventions like tariffs, taxation or welfare programs, which they view as distortions of free will and private enterprise.
-freedom in the economic sphere is thus not merely instrumental- it is itself an expression of human dignity and self-ownership
2: freedom vs economic stability and social order
Modern liberals
-however, this view is challenged by modern liberals, who advocate for keynesian economics, which indicates their willingness to compromise personal liberty in the name of economic order and societal justice via wealth redistribution.
-they are united in rejecting the classical liberal belief that unregulated markets produce fair outcomes. Instead, they argue that genuine liberty requires state intervention to mitigate inequality and provide enabling conditions like education, healthcare and welfare.
-John Rawls built upon this with his first principle of justice, guaranteeing equal basic liberties for all citizens, while also allowing for economic redistribution under the difference principle- so long as liberty is preserved
-modern liberties explicitly reject the idea that economic liberty alone creates justice. They argue that without government regulation, capitalism results in monopolies, wage stagnation and exploitation- all of which restrict meaningful liberty
2:freedom vs economic stability and social order
Conclusion
These tensions show that liberalism does not always treat individual freedom as its highest priority. In some cases, modern liberals are prepared to sacrifice certain freedoms- especially economic ones- to preserve market efficiency or achieve social justice. This challenges the assumption that liberalism is singularly or even primarily concerned with liberty.
3: freedom as a foundational principle
Topic sentence
Despite internal disagreements, all liberals converge on the belief that individual freedom is foundational- if not always exclusive- value of the liberal tradition
3: freedom as a foundational freedom
Classical liberals
-classical liberals build their entire philosophical framework around the sanctity of individual liberty. For them, liberty is both a moral right and a social unity: it empowers people to pursue happiness, innovate, express themselves, and engage in voluntary exchange.
-Locke’s theory of natural rights placed liberty alongside life and property as rights that pre-date and limit the authority of the state.
-John Stuart Mill similarly emphasised the vital role of liberty in fostering individuality and moral progress, arguing that society benefits when individuals are free to develop according to their own values and reasoning.
-classical liberalism therefore holds liberty to be not just a political value, but the moral foundation of all legitimate government
3: freedom as a foundational principle
Modern liberals
-modern liberals, although they adapt and expand the concept, do not abandon liberty as a core principle.
-T.H. Green redefined liberty as the capacity of self-realisation, and John Rawls’ first principle of justice guarantees the maximum amount of liberty consistent with equal liberty for all.
-even when advocating for redistribution or state regulation, modern liberals justify these measures as tools to enhance personal freedom in a meaningful way.
-for instance, access to education or healthcare is seen not as a privilege but as a condition of true autonomy.
3: freedom as a foundation principle
Conclusion
In this sense, both classical and modern liberals remain committed to the ideal of liberty- even if they interpret and pursue it differently. Thus, while liberals may diverge on how liberty should be understood or prioritised in practice, they share a foundational belief that individual freedom is indispensable to human dignity, moral responsibility and political legitimacy. This deep-rooted consensus affirms that freedom remains central- even if not always singular- to liberal ideology
Introduction
Overall, all liberals uphold liberty as a fundamental value, but they differ on its interpretation and application fundamentally. Classical liberals emphasise negative freedom, advocating for minimal state interference to allow individuals to act as they choose. In contrast, modern liberals support positive freedom, arguing that the state must play an active role in removing social and economic barriers that restrict individual autonomy. While liberals share a commitment to liberty, their contrasting views on how to achieve it suggest that they agree on the idea of liberty to a limited extent.
