Agreement Classical Liberalism Modern Liberalism
Society Both strands accept indi-
vidualism, this means that • Classical liberals believe that they individual is more important than society as a • They believe in the common good and development
they believe that the indi- whole • Realising human potential is not possible in isolation - our rights, freedom and growth
vidual is more important • They believe in an atomistic society depends on other people
than any social group or
• The idea that society is a collection of self- interested individuals, acting in their own o Link to T.H Green
collective body. All liberals
interest
believe that the individuals
• Humans have sympathy for one another, and their ego is constrained by some degree
have unique abilities and o Link to Locke
of altruism
interests.
• He argued that human beings are rational, guided by the pursuit of self-interest, but • Indeed Green even argued that human perfection cannot be gained in isolation, but
With J.S Mill arguing that
mindful of others’ concern only as part of society
the main purpose of soci-
ety is to facilitate the indi- • Egotistical individualism • Developmental individualism
vidual
Liberals disagree to a large extent on their views towards society and the individual. While there is disagreement
Freedom is the hallmark of • CL’s believe in negative freedom • Modern liberals now see a need for positive liberty to also be promoted within soci-
liberalism with both • CL who argue that there should be much less stress on society and more on the indi- ety, alongside the need of negative liberty
strands believing within so- vidual – society is atomistic and naturally competitive, thus individuals should look • Modern liberals believe the state should help free those in the society who cannot
ciety individuals should out for themselves and be entirely self-reliant free themselves – for many, without resources provided by the state, they wouldn’t
have the freedom to make have the opportunity to be free (education, housing etc.), and thus with the help of
o Link to Stuart Mill
the state, individuals in society can develop and grow
choices that impact in their
• Blieved that individualism at the core of ‘society’ lead to better competition and thus • Furthermore, modern liberals advocate society to embrace social welfare and justice
lives
economic growth – society is more organic than atomistic and thus people should promote social cohe-
We also see both strands sion
agreeing that there must
be some limit to freedom
within society - ‘freedom
under the law’
Both strands support • Meritocracy/formal equality of opportunity • Fair/substantive equality of opportunity
equality to some extent.
Society Both strands accept indi-
vidualism, this means that • Classical liberals believe that they individual is more important than society as a • They believe in the common good and development
they believe that the indi- whole • Realising human potential is not possible in isolation - our rights, freedom and growth
vidual is more important • They believe in an atomistic society depends on other people
than any social group or
• The idea that society is a collection of self- interested individuals, acting in their own o Link to T.H Green
collective body. All liberals
interest
believe that the individuals
• Humans have sympathy for one another, and their ego is constrained by some degree
have unique abilities and o Link to Locke
of altruism
interests.
• He argued that human beings are rational, guided by the pursuit of self-interest, but • Indeed Green even argued that human perfection cannot be gained in isolation, but
With J.S Mill arguing that
mindful of others’ concern only as part of society
the main purpose of soci-
ety is to facilitate the indi- • Egotistical individualism • Developmental individualism
vidual
Liberals disagree to a large extent on their views towards society and the individual. While there is disagreement
Freedom is the hallmark of • CL’s believe in negative freedom • Modern liberals now see a need for positive liberty to also be promoted within soci-
liberalism with both • CL who argue that there should be much less stress on society and more on the indi- ety, alongside the need of negative liberty
strands believing within so- vidual – society is atomistic and naturally competitive, thus individuals should look • Modern liberals believe the state should help free those in the society who cannot
ciety individuals should out for themselves and be entirely self-reliant free themselves – for many, without resources provided by the state, they wouldn’t
have the freedom to make have the opportunity to be free (education, housing etc.), and thus with the help of
o Link to Stuart Mill
the state, individuals in society can develop and grow
choices that impact in their
• Blieved that individualism at the core of ‘society’ lead to better competition and thus • Furthermore, modern liberals advocate society to embrace social welfare and justice
lives
economic growth – society is more organic than atomistic and thus people should promote social cohe-
We also see both strands sion
agreeing that there must
be some limit to freedom
within society - ‘freedom
under the law’
Both strands support • Meritocracy/formal equality of opportunity • Fair/substantive equality of opportunity
equality to some extent.
