notes 4 classical liberalism Flashcards
(14 cards)
origins of classical liberalism
europe (and then north america)
end of feudal (medieval) era (hierarchy, no change in class)
increased focus on rational, logical, and empirical thought
increased rejection of divine right of kings
more revolutions, rethinking peoples relationship with their government
“subjects” –> “citizens”
republic government (not led by monarchs)
4 principles of classical liberalism
- personal freedoms (initially not universal to all citizens)
- equality of right (like rule of law)
- limited gov (gov serves society, not in charge of)
- consent of the governed (opposing diving right of kings, gov is responsible to people and can be changed by the people)
hobbes
late 1500s - late 1600s
“life is nasty brutish and short”
↪ people will defeat each other, need a strong authority to defeat that
authoritarianism
need a strong, armed gov (doesn’t care what kind)
favoured republics over monarchies
gov control = safety + security
locke
mid 1600s - early 1700s
“father of liberalism”
emphasized personal freedoms (right to property, religious tolerance, political self-interest)
closest views to classical liberalism
republic gov
not a monarchy
social contract
–> how govs claim their legitimacy from people
–> ideas from locke + hobbes
- protect people’s rights (if misused power, people can replace gov, like locke said, or over throw gov, like hobbes said)
- people give gov power (if they don’t, gov can misuse power)
rousseau
1700s
“man is born free yet everywhere is in chains”
↪ chains = gov
↪ gov restricts people + happiness
opposite of hobbes
belief in social contract (gov controlled by people)
voltaire
1700s
separation of church + state
no official religion
emphasis on logical, empirical, rational ideas
montesquieu
late 1600s - mid 1700s
separation of powers
↪3 branches of gov (like britain who was winning)
gov held accountable
indigenous influence on principles of liberalism
great law of peace - like a constitution, made in a first nation community in 1400s
principles of righteousness, health, power (also characteristics of liberalism)
indigenous influenced founders of american constitution
smith
mid - late 1700s
“father of economics”
book - the wealth of nations
↪criticises mercantilism which was prevalent at the time
↪economic self-interest
2 ideas:
1. laissez-faire
- no gov intervention in economy
- let trade flow naturally
2. invisible hand
- economy naturally goes up and down
- invisible force stopping economic growth –> gov intervention is unnecessary
mill
1800s
2 ideas:
1. greatest good for greatest number (utilitarianism)
2. harm principle
- right to do whatever i want until the point that i harm someone else
reactionaries to classical liberalism
people that thought change had gone too far, want to go back to past
french revolution scared middle class (bourgeoisie)
classical conservatives advocated for an elite to rule society
↪aristocratic ideas
burke
mid - late 1700s
french revolution = “mob”/crowd
↪out of control, controlled by emotion
classical conservative
elite group to choose leader from (can’t pick from “mob”)
similar to hobbes but less liberal, less authoritarian, and wants an elite to choose from
