LIBERALISM

Liberalism

Liberalism

Introduction

The terms liberal and liberalism generally denote a mixture of currents of thought, political, religious, economic, and theological, that came into view at the time of the Reformation and hardened between the Enlightenment and the 19th century (Rawls, 2003). Liberalism articulates the political theory of limited government, and conveys the political feelings of the contemporary human being, who observes himself as separate from tradition, religion, custom and discrimination, and placed in the world with no direction beyond that which his own explanation can offer. Therefore, if there is a logical account to be offered of elementary human liberties and rights, the person can decide the legality of political institutions by the degree of their value for these rights and independence, and widen his loyalty consequently. This paper discusses the theory and uses of liberalism including liberties, human rights, and free trade.

Discussion

The essential characteristic of all liberal theories of political responsibility is that of tacit or overt permission, and the theory of the social contract is the prime case of a liberal justification of government. To make the basic philosophy rational it is compulsory to state much about both the nature of liberty, and the temperament of the people. One philosophy which brings these two subjects together is that of Kant, whose theory of the autonomy of the rational agent offers foundation for all of the intentions given above, with the feasible exemption of the last. But this last, the support of broadmindedness, is possibly the least reasonable, liberalism being itself a moral view, and often articulated with a prejudiced dislike towards its opponents that is nothing if not prejudiced. (Ashley, 2003)

Definition

Liberalism denotes political ideology or doctrine which premises individual rights and liberty, for instance freedom of equality of opportunity, thought/religion, and the permission to have assets. Liberalism asserts that all people have the privilege to liberty, life, and property. Liberal regimes are responsible for establishing and protecting individual liberty and a right to self-determination. Elections are generally fair and unbiased, individual rights are made explicit, and citizens are equally protected under the law. Economic policy is inclined to be derived from the principle that competition between entrepreneurs is not only the right of individuals, but that it builds a strong economy. Government intervention is thus kept at a minimum. (Harold, 2006)

Background of Liberalism

A broad and historically enormously successful political philosophy championing, since c. 1750, among other causes: the natural freedom of individuals with respect to each other and the state; constitutional enshrinement of civil and political liberties, notably civic freedoms of speech and the press and personal freedoms of association and belief; the right to own and dispose of property under the full protection of an enforceable law of contracts; disestablishment of religion and, frequently, sharp and activist anticlericalism as well; basic human rights, increasingly broadly defined; and, lest it be forgotten by contemporary friend or foe of liberalism on the left or on the right, also laid-back economic arrangements, most notably free ...