Starting blocks of liberal beliefs
Human nature
The starting point for liberals is the importance of the individual. Liberals see people as rational individuals,
capable of perceiving their own interests and taking their own decisions. They stress the positive potential of
human nature. People should be free to make the most of their talents, enjoying equality of opportunity. A
good society is also one in which there is tolerance of different values, customs and beliefs. Classical liberals
believe that people should be restricted only where there is risk of their threatening the freedom of others.
Modern liberals have been more conscious of social injustice, and favour some external intervention by the
state to counter this.
Individuals important & individuals rational -> individuals should be free
The state
Central to liberal political thought is the concept of the social contract – the idea that the state is based on the
agreement of the people, who choose to give up some freedom in return for security. According to
mechanistic theory, people created the state in order to serve them and act in their interests. Liberals
therefore believe in limited government, with checks and balances to prevent abuses of power. They are keen
that the state does not deprive people of their civil liberties. Liberals often support the decentralisation of
power, so that authority is dispersed between different levels of government and not concentrated at the
centre
State based on agreement of people (social contract) -> state needs to be small so it is not able to
infringe on rights of people
Society
Classical liberals downplayed the importance of society, seeing it primarily as a collection of individuals,
pursuing their own interests (atomism). They advocated the concept of a meritocracy, whereby individuals
succeed through their own ability and hard work. This entails a belief in the importance of foundational
equality – people are born equal. Linked to this is the notion of formal equality, whereby individuals are
entitled to the same legal and political rights. Modern liberals believe that this, on its own, is not enough to
guarantee true social equality. People should still be free to make their own choices, but society is more than
the sum of individuals it contains. For example, some assistance by the state in combating poverty is necessary
to enable people to flourish and for a fair society to develop, in which inequality is minimised.
[classical liberals] society collection of individuals/do not believe in materialism -> foundational
equality; everyone is equal at the start -> meritocracy; if everyone works hard, they will succeed -> no
need for state to provide welfare only formal equality
[modern liberals] society more than just a collection of individuals/believe in some materialism ->
foundational equality doesn’t really exist -> formal equality not enough for social equality -> need
some welfare to combat inequality
The economy
Classical liberalism’s emphasis on the individual led to a belief in free-market capitalism – the idea that the
economy is best served by limited state intervention. By contrast in the 20th century, modern liberals were
more conscious of the failings of the market, and argued that state intervention is necessary to promote
sustainable growth and to limit the injustice associated with large-scale unemployment and poverty.
Human nature
The starting point for liberals is the importance of the individual. Liberals see people as rational individuals,
capable of perceiving their own interests and taking their own decisions. They stress the positive potential of
human nature. People should be free to make the most of their talents, enjoying equality of opportunity. A
good society is also one in which there is tolerance of different values, customs and beliefs. Classical liberals
believe that people should be restricted only where there is risk of their threatening the freedom of others.
Modern liberals have been more conscious of social injustice, and favour some external intervention by the
state to counter this.
Individuals important & individuals rational -> individuals should be free
The state
Central to liberal political thought is the concept of the social contract – the idea that the state is based on the
agreement of the people, who choose to give up some freedom in return for security. According to
mechanistic theory, people created the state in order to serve them and act in their interests. Liberals
therefore believe in limited government, with checks and balances to prevent abuses of power. They are keen
that the state does not deprive people of their civil liberties. Liberals often support the decentralisation of
power, so that authority is dispersed between different levels of government and not concentrated at the
centre
State based on agreement of people (social contract) -> state needs to be small so it is not able to
infringe on rights of people
Society
Classical liberals downplayed the importance of society, seeing it primarily as a collection of individuals,
pursuing their own interests (atomism). They advocated the concept of a meritocracy, whereby individuals
succeed through their own ability and hard work. This entails a belief in the importance of foundational
equality – people are born equal. Linked to this is the notion of formal equality, whereby individuals are
entitled to the same legal and political rights. Modern liberals believe that this, on its own, is not enough to
guarantee true social equality. People should still be free to make their own choices, but society is more than
the sum of individuals it contains. For example, some assistance by the state in combating poverty is necessary
to enable people to flourish and for a fair society to develop, in which inequality is minimised.
[classical liberals] society collection of individuals/do not believe in materialism -> foundational
equality; everyone is equal at the start -> meritocracy; if everyone works hard, they will succeed -> no
need for state to provide welfare only formal equality
[modern liberals] society more than just a collection of individuals/believe in some materialism ->
foundational equality doesn’t really exist -> formal equality not enough for social equality -> need
some welfare to combat inequality
The economy
Classical liberalism’s emphasis on the individual led to a belief in free-market capitalism – the idea that the
economy is best served by limited state intervention. By contrast in the 20th century, modern liberals were
more conscious of the failings of the market, and argued that state intervention is necessary to promote
sustainable growth and to limit the injustice associated with large-scale unemployment and poverty.
