Liberalism – Key Figures Flashcards
Adam Smith 1723 to 1790
This Scottish economist and philosopher, Smith is usually seen as the founder the ‘dismal science’. In “the theory of moral sentiments” (1759), he developed a theory of motivation that tried to reconcile human self interestedness with unregulated social order. Smith’s most famous work, the wealth of nations” (1776), was the first systematic attempt to explain the workings of the economy in market terms. Although he is sometimes portrayed as a free market theorist, Smith was nevertheless aware of the limitations of laissez-faire.
John Locke 1632 to 1704
An English philosopher and poet politician, Locke was a constant opponent of absolutism and is often portrayed as the philosopher of the 1688 ‘Glorious Revolution’ (which established the constitutional monarchy in England). Using social contract theory and accepting that, by nature, humans are free and equal, Locke up held constitutionalism, limited government and the right of revolution, but the stress he placed on property rights prevented him from endorsing political equality or democracy in the modern sense. Locke’s foremost political work is ‘Two treatises of government’ 1690.
Immanuel Kant 1724 to 1804
A German philosopher, Kant’s ‘critical’ philosophy holds that knowledge is not merely and aggregate of sense impressions: it depends on the conceptual apparatus of human understanding. Kant’s political thought was shaped by the central importance of morality. He believed that the law of reason dictates categorical imperatives, the most important of which is the obligation to treat others as ‘ends’, and never only as ‘means’. Kant’s most important works include ‘critique of pure reason’ (1781) and ‘metaphysics of morals’ (1785).
Thomas Jefferson 1743 to 1826
A US political philosopher and statesman, Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) and later served as the third president of the USA (1801-09). Jefferson advocated a democratic form of agrarianism that sought to blend a belief in rule by a natural aristocracy with a commitment to limit government and laissez-faire, although he also exhibited sympathy for social reform. In the USA Jeffersonianism stands for resistance to strong central government and a stress on individual freedom and responsibility, and states’ rights.
Jeremy Bentham 1748 1832
The British philosopher, legal reformer and founder of utilitarianism, Bentham developed a moral and philosophical system based on the belief that human beings are rationally self-interested creatures, or utility maximisers. Using the principle of general utility – the greatest happiness for the greatest number – he advanced a justification for laissez-faire economics, constitutional reform and in later life political democracy. Bentham’s Key works include A fragment on government (1776) and An introduction to the principles of morals and Legislation (1789).
James Madison 1751 to 1836
A US statesman and political theorist, Madison played a major role in writing the US Constitution and served as the fourth president of the USA (1809–17). Madison was a leading proponent of pluralism and divided government, urging the adoption of federalism, bicameralism and the separation of powers as the basis of US government. Madisonianism thus implies a strong emphasis on checks and balances as the principal means of resisting tyranny. His best-known political writings are his contributions to The Federalist (1787-08).
John Stuart Mill 1806 to 1873
British philosopher, economist and politician, Mill’s varied and complex work straddles the divide between classical and modern forms of liberalism. His opposition to collectivist tendencies and traditions was firmly rooted in 19th-century principles, but his emphasis on the quality of individual life, reflected in a commitment to individuality, as well as his sympathy for causes such as female suffrage and workers cooperatives, looked forward to later developments. Mill’s major writings include On Liberty (1859), Utilitarianism (1861) and Considerations on Representative Government (1861).
TH (Thomas Hill) Green 1836 to 1882
The British philosopher and social theorist, Green highlighted the limitations of early liberal doctrines and particularly laissez-faire. Influenced by Aristotle and Hegel, Green argued that humans are by nature social creatures, a position that helped liberalism reach an accommodation with welfarism and social justice. His idea of ‘positive’ freedom had a major influence on the emergence of so-called new liberalism in the UK. His chief works include Lectures on the Principles of Political obligation (18 79–80) and Prolegomena to Ethics (1883).
John Rawls 1921 to 2002
A US political philosopher,
