I. Classical liberalism
A. John Locke,
John
Stuart Mill
B.most important in
American
context
C. part of
Enlightenment era
1.
after
Dark Ages
2.
advances in physics, biology, physical sciences
A. science example of human reason in practice
B. ability to control nature
D. social structure
(feudal
system)
1. no
mobility
in life
2.
patriarchal
rule
3.
“divine
right” of kings
E. English Civil Wars
(Protestant
faction vs. Catholic factions)
1. 1690 The
Second
Treatise of Government
a. Men
have
capacity to be self-governing (reason)
b.
entitled to
freedom to develop this potential
c. man will
always
behave in own self-interest, acquisitive
1.
learn from consequences when fails
2.use reason to become more productive
2. men voluntarily give up some freedom
in exchange for the protection that government provides
a. "social contract"
1. govt provides protection for vulnerable against
strong
2. ensures that property is not stolen,
productivity
is rewarded
3. ensures trade/commerce goes smoothly
4.. protection of borders- national security
b. when govt fails citizens, they have "obligation" to
revolt
3. to maximize personal freedom, govt
must be limited in scope
a.
negative liberty most important value
b. freedom from interference
c. public/private
domains
1. private domain
a. family, religious community, neighborhood
b. no govt role at all
c. self-regulating institutions
d. prevent repeat of English Civil wars
1. emotional, irrational domain
2. group-oriented society
e. morality controlled by private institutions
1. no need for laws governing social behavior
2. social pressures from community
3. individual can rely upon community for help
d. public domains
market or economy
1. no govt interference
2. self-regulating (invisible hand)
3. equal opportunity to compete, unequal outcomes
a. outcomes determined by effort, ability, creativity only
b. early market capitalism
c. better than mercantilism (politically controlled trade)
e. allowing individuals to
maximize
their self-interest will result in best world for everyone
1. encourage
creativity, innovativeness
2. natural
incentives
come from competitiveness
f. political domain--proper
role of
government
1.
protection of private property
2.
smoothing economic transactions
3.
whatever collective decisions need to be made
A. reasonable debate
B. decision by rational consensus (agreement)
C. political tolerance of diversity of beliefs and opinions
D. Govt. neutrality towards religious & moral groups
I. J.S. Mill “ON LIBERTY”
1. value of personal
liberty
to just society
a.
if govt. involvement, will be for arbitrary reasons
b. private institutions do better job
in
controlling behavior
c.
complete freedom if it affects no one else
d.
value
of market to sift out bad ideas
J. values in classical liberalism
1. freedom-negative
liberty (freedom from govt. interference)
2.
equality
a. in private sphere-natural inequality
b. market--equal opportunity to compete, unequal outcomes
1. assumption of abundance
2. best, most efficient system, as a result
c.
political domain-complete equality
3. justice-you
get to keep the fruits of your labor
a.
helps to fulfill God’s plan
b.
allows natural incentives of market to work
4. community==private
matter (no
govt interference)
a.
family,
religious community, social group
b.
allows
for regulation of moral behavior
c.
individual comes before needs of community
K. all citizens had equal
political
voice
1. Citizenship
restricted to white male property owners
2.moral theory
of land
ownership
a.
mix
labor with nature and improve it
b.
Property-owners will act in own self-interest
1. roots of "wise use" movement
2. roll back environmental
regulation
L. Classical liberalism
root
ideology in U.S.
1.
reflected
conditions in U.S. until the 20th century
a. constant room for economic expansion
b. strong and cohesive communities
c. extended families
d. social and cultural homogeneity, relatively speaking
2. limited
national
govt, strong state govts.
3. little
regulation
of industry
4. where do
these
ideas still exist?