Freedom/liberty - core ideas

Question 1

what did classical liberals believe about freedom?

Answer 1

• They believed in negative freedom
• this refers to the absence of constraint as classical liberals believe in a minimal state

Question 2

what do modern liberals believe about freedom?

Answer 2

• they believe in positive freedom
• this includes the state as an enabling state which plays a positive role to assist individuals to achieve their dreams and initiatives

Question 3

what did early liberals such as Locke argue?

Answer 3

• that freedom is a natural right and the role of the government is the protection of man’s right to ‘life, liberty and estate’
• the state is needed to mediate between competing individuals to enforce order, protect property rights and prevent breach of contracts and fraud

Question 4

What else did Locke argue for

Answer 4

• absolute monarchies are illegitimate and Locke argued for a state constructed by the social contract where individuals are governed by consent

Question 5

How did they believe that the state would exercise freedom? (classical)

Answer 5

• as the state would practise a limited government and observe negative freedom so that the individual might enjoy the maximum amount of freedom within a legal framework
• this gave heavy emphasis to the economy and to laissez-faire economics

Question 6

What did modern liberals believe about freedom/liberty?

Answer 6

• wollenstonecraft championed forma equality and freedom in terms of women pushing a career, playing a role in the economy, and having legal property rights
• J.S Mill advocated freedom of speech, thought and religion unless they posed a direct threat to others which Mill called the harm principle