Classical liberalism

Question 1

who are the key classical liberals?

Answer 1

• John Locke
• Mary Wollstonecraft
• John Stuart Mill

Question 2

why do classical liberal ideas have revolutionary implications?

Answer 2

• lockes ideas of government by consent and assertion that a state should be the servant not master, were revolutionary and potentially violent in the 17th century
• by rejecting the twin pillars of traditional states (divine right of kings and monarchical absolutism) locke’s philosophy became associated with the Glorious Revolution.
• support for ‘rationalism’ and the notion that human nature was guided by reason, was also controversial in the late 18th century
• other classical liberals like Wollstonecraft, argued that the prevailing view of women was an affront to both reason and liberty. this was considered dangerous by many in authority.

Question 3

what do classical liberals view about negative liberty?

Answer 3

• negative liberty is the belief that humans are ‘free from’ interference by both governments and other individuals.
• it reflects Mills view that freedom means individuals being left alone to determine their own destiny. Mill argued that, unless it could be shown that a man’s excercise of liberty ‘harmed that of others, any interference with his actions infringed his natural right to freedom
• this concept of liberty reflected the classical liberal view that human beings were naturally autonomous and chimed with Locke’s notion that society was naturally ‘atomistic’ (defined by a multitude of self-interested and self-sufficieent individuals)

Question 4

what do classical liberals view about minimal government?

Answer 4

• classical liberals endorse the idea of minimal government. this is different from a minimal state as the typical liberal state with its various ‘checks and balances’ is actually quite extensive.
• the notion of minimal government therefore related more to how much governing the state should undertake rather the structure of the state
• according to Locke and JSM, governments be be limited not just in terms of how they can act, but in terms of whether they act.
• consistent with ‘negative liberty’, the limited constitutional state should therefore co-exsist with minimal government activity
• this is best summarised by the idea that ‘the government which governs best is that which governs least’

Question 5

what do classical liberals view about laissez-faire capitalism?

Answer 5

• smith, later commended strongly by JSM, argued that capitalism had a limitless capacity to enrich individuals and society, as long as state interveention in the economy was severely restricted. reflecting the notion of negative libeerty, the states role was to adopt a mainly leave alone approach to the workings of a market economy, so that market forces could operate and flourish ‘naturally’.
• smith advocated the end of tariffs, duties and other forms of economic protectionism, and the spread of free trade between nation-states and their commercial classes.

Question 6

why are classical liberals ambivalent about democracy?

Answer 6

• locke thought that universal adult suffrage, which empowered the majority, threatened the ‘natural’ property rights of the minority. as a result, most classical liberals believed that the right to vote should be confined to property owners
• later, JSM, however, was more resigned to the inevitability of democracy. Mill, argued that it would eventually complement the ‘developmental’ aspect of human nature. mass engagement with election debates, Mill argued, along with the process of ‘rationally’ deciding whom to support, was a form of political education that would enhance everyone’s capacity for reason. as a result, Mill argued, democracy could fortify for reason.
• but Mill was still hesitant, in mid 19th century, most adults had no formal education and where therefore’ ill-equipped’ to make rational choices. consequently, mill argued that universal adult suffrage must be preceded by universal education. he was confident that mass education would establish a liberal consensus within society and then ensure liberal outcomes in elections.