Later Classical Liberalism (early-mid 19th Century) Flashcards
By the 1800s, what did countries like Britain and the USA look like?
looked very different to the societies surveyed by Locke and the Founding Fathers
By the 1800s counties like Britain and the USA looked very different to the societies surveyed by Locke and the founding fathers- why?
They had become more industrialised; most individuals now worked and lived in an urban environment; individuals had a growing sense of class consciousness; and, as a result, there was growing interest in concepts like democracy and socialism.
In such a changed environment, classical liberals faced a serious challenge, what was it?
if their core ideas were to remain relevant.
What was the response that came for the core ideas of liberalism to remain relevant?
A response duly came, but it was far from uniform. The ideas of four ‘late classical’ liberals provide an indication of how variable the response was.
Who was known as the father of utilitarian philosophy?
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
Who was known as the father of utilitarian philosophy?
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
What did the father of utilitarian philosophy develop?
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), known as the father of utilitarian philosophy, developed a supposedly scientific alternative to natural rights theory, based on the idea that each individual would seek to maximise their own ‘utility’ by maximising personal pleasure and minimising personal pain.
What did Bentham acknowledge ?
Bentham also acknowledged that, in an industrialised society, this could produce more clashes between individuals than early classical liberals had envisaged.
As a result of possible clashes what did Benthan suggest?
As a result, he suggested that the liberal state would need to be more proactive, using the algebraic formula of ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number’ to inform legislation and government policy.
In the process Bentham laid the foundations of
‘political science’ and provided liberalism with one of its earliest justifications for democracy: as Bentham observed, governments were more likely to follow the ‘greatest happiness of the greatest number’ if they were elected by and accountable to ‘the greatest number’ of voters.
Who feared that individualism was threatened but the advent of socialism ?
Samuel Smiles (1812-1904)
Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) book?
Samuel Smiles (1812-1904), fearing that individualism was threatened by the advent of socialism, with its related calls for more state provision, argued in his influential book Self Help (1859) that self-reliance was still perfectly feasible for most individuals, including members of the new working class.
What did Smiles acknowledge?
Smiles acknowledged that industrialised societies made it harder for individuals to be self-reliant: an increasing number were faceless employees in a bulging factory system.
Smiles argued that, in seeking to overcome the new obstacles…
individuals would merely be challenged more rigorously and, in the process, become more fully developed.
Smiles argued that, in seeking to overcome the new obstacles…
individuals would merely be challenged more rigorously and, in the process, become more fully developed.
Smiles infamous quote
If ‘self-help were usurped by state help’, Smiles argued,
‘human beings would remain stunted, their talents unknown, and their liberty squandered.
Give a contemporary of Smiles
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)
What did Herbert Spencer acknowledge?
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903), a contemporary of Smiles, acknowledged the importance of self-help and echoed Smiles’ contempt for more state intervention
Where could we see Spenser questioning Smilies ?
in Man Versus the State (1884), Spencer questioned Smiles’ belief that all individuals could rise to the challenge of self-help, noting the presence of ‘the feeble, the feckless and the failing’ in many Victorian cities.
Spenser feared that
Fearing that this
‘feeble’ minority could justify the extension of state power, and therefore (what he saw as) an erosion of the majority’s freedom, Spencer sought to apply the principles of ‘natural selection’, recently unveiled to science by Charles Darwin.
‘social Darwinism’
In what became known as ‘social Darwinism’, Spencer restated the classical liberal belief in a minimal state and negative freedom, claiming that this would lead to ‘the survival of the fittest’ and the gradual elimination of those unable to enjoy the benefits of individualism.
Outcome of social Darwinism
The eventual outcome would be a society where rational self-reliance was the norm and where individual freedom could thrive.
Who were Bentham, Smiles and Spenser eclipsed by?
In terms of long-term importance, however, Bentham, Smiles and Spencer were eclipsed by John Stuart Mill. Mill’s contribution to philosophy in general was immense.
Mills contribution to philosophy in general was…?
Immense
What have some suggested about Mill’s ideas ?
some have suggested that Mill’s ideas represent a separate strand of liberalism, known as transitional liberalism or developmental individualism
Mill’s contribution to liberalism and political thought was
crucial, given that it took place at a time — the mid-nineteenth century - when many liberals were struggling to work out how liberalism (with its stress upon individualism) could harness trends towards universal suffrage (with its capacity for what Mill himself termed ‘the tyranny of the majority’).
Mill’s response to this dilemma would …
have a profound effect upon the way in which later liberals reconciled themselves to democratic governance.
Anticipating universal suffrage, Mill updated Locke’s case for
representative government into a case for representative democracy.
Under Mills model for representative govt into a case for representative democracy …
Under this model, the enlarged electorate would not make policy decisions themselves but elect liberally minded representatives to make decisions for them.
Developmental individualism
This relates to the liberal philosophy of John Stuart Mill, who wished to focus on what individuals could become rather than what they had become. It explained Mill’s strong emphasis upon the value of formal education within a liberal society.
Mills model
When making decisions, such representatives would not
simply side with the majority view, they would seek to aggregate the various opinions within society so as to produce the broad consent of all.
Mills model
In putting forward this particular model of democracy
Mill also equipped later liberals to rebut alternative models — such as ‘direct’ democracy - which he claimed were much more conducive to the ‘tyranny of the majority’.
Mills model
In putting forward this particular model of democracy
Mill also equipped later liberals to rebut alternative models — such as ‘direct’ democracy - which he claimed were much more conducive to the ‘tyranny of the majority’.
What was Mill still concerned about?
Mill was still concerned,
however, that during the mid-
nineteenth century most would-be voters were ill-equipped to choose ‘intelligent’ representatives to act ‘rationally’ on their behalf.
What was Mill still concerned about?
Mill was still concerned,
however, that during the mid-
nineteenth century most would-be voters were ill-equipped to choose ‘intelligent’ representatives to act ‘rationally’ on their behalf.
Mills concern about voters during mid 19th century being ill equipped to chose intelligent representatives to act rationally let to what..?
With that in mind, Mill argued that universal suffrage must be preceded by universal education, hoping this would promote developmental individualism.
By this, Mill meant the advancement of individual potential, so as to produce a liberal consensus in society; this in turn would safeguard tolerance, reason and individualism.
Mills concern about voters during mid 19th century being ill equipped to chose intelligent representatives to act rationally let to what..?
With that in mind, Mill argued that universal suffrage must be preceded by universal education, hoping this would promote developmental individualism.
By this, Mill meant the advancement of individual potential, so as to produce a liberal consensus in society; this in turn would safeguard tolerance, reason and individualism.
Mean-whilst Mill decided that due to the concern about ill equipped individuals voting …?
Meanwhile, a vote would be withheld from the illiterate and unschooled, while those with a university education (like Mill) would receive more than one vote.
Until widespread education had been secured
Once widespread education had been secured, what did Mill argue?
Mill argued, democracy could actually further liberal values - promoting, for example, political education and opportunities for enlightening debate.
Mill argued that once widespread du had been secured, such a progressive society could allow what ?
a pleasing refinement of Bentham’s utilitarianism: ‘the greatest happiness of the greatest number’ could then be a calculation made by politicians and voters, thus encouraging ordinary citizens to consider and aggregate everyone’s interests, not just their own, when forming a political judgement.
Despite Mill’s commitment to mass education..?
Mill remained vague about how it would be provided
Critical thinking
As someone wedded to the classical liberal ideas of a minimal state and negative freedom, Mill was reluctant to…
countenance extensive state provision of schooling. But this key issue was one that his successors, the so-called modern liberals, were prepared to answer with more clarity and boldness — and not just in relation to education.
What time era was the LATER CL period in ?
Early-mid 19th century
