What Is Liberalism - Essay Example

Liberalism encompasses a vivid description of a human life, in which one is provided with the resources, space and also the responsibility for developing themselves into individuals by choosing their own path. A liberal society can be defined as a society which appreciates the opinions o f that individual and also allows him to lay out his own life plans. Mill, in On Liberty, wrote: "The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way."1 Wordsworth described this liberty as "sovereignty within"2 which often necessitates state intervention for restraints and sometimes even requires government action. For instance, mandatory education for children can be identified as a liberal measure by rights. The worst foe of liberty is not compulsion but rather the dependency on others perspectives for making personal decisions. For instance, an idle or inactive landowner makes more money in his sleep on the labour of others. A substantive dimension of liberalism is the freedom of individuals to choose the manner in which they want to live given that they are not dependent on others and also that others are not harmed by their actions. According to Mill, general lessons can be derived from the liberal diverse sets of lifestyles or "experiments in living". For instance, in case cohabitation is discovered to be a less domestic mode than marriage, then the findings from this lifestyle would be for everyone to observe instead of the traditional “expert state” determining a finding for us. The majority of political parties which self-identify themselves as being liberal assert the promotion of responsibilities and rights of an individual as well as free choice contained by an open competitive procedure. Furthermore, these liberal political parties also claim to promote a free market but also promote the twofold responsibilities of the state to guarantee their liberty and also protect the interests of an individual citizen simultaneously. In contrast, critics of these liberal parties draw a different picture of their liberal policies. For instance, economic freedom can encourage economic inequality on extensive levels. Often, the dual role of the state to guarantee the liberty of markets and protection of individual citizens tend to conflict. Economic liberalism advocates the liberty of contract and rights of property. In absence of these, it argues that implementation of associated individual liberties is impracticable. Economic liberalism supports that the market value of services and goods ought to be fixed by “free” choices of market forces with little or no government intervention and regulations. Furthermore, sometimes, some economic liberals advocate the consent of market forces to directly intervene in areas previously monopolized by state or government such as court or security provision. Economic liberalism fully accepts the consequence of inequality which emerges due to unequal grants and provisions. This is a typical trait of competition provided that compulsion is not used to attain that provision. Ironically, all kinds of liberalism asset protection of freedom and liberty but differ about the true definition of freedom. Liberalism is so prevalent in modern societies that the majority of Western Nations to the least communicate sincerity while addressing individual liberty as being the foundation for society itself. According to Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman, economic liberty is essential for not only creation but also sustainability of political and civil freedom. Hayek, further, states that positive totalitarian results can be achieved in Britain, if this economic freedom could be controlled by the states through policy prescriptions proposed by Dewey, Keynes, or Roosevelt3. According to Winston Churchill, "...democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms..." In terms of liberalism, democracy is an essential and basic means for securing freedom, individuality as well as diversity. In the beginning, liberal democrats anticipated a mob rule and in the course of action, they built checks and balance constitutions of their democracies in order to limit the authorities of the succeeding government by means of dividing those authorities amongst several branches. Few liberals, support direct democracy in place of representative democracy. Liberalism strives for the substitution of absolutism or authoritarianism by limited government. Liberals advocate a pluralist system which allows contradictory social and political perspectives and even extreme views to compete for representative power on a popular or democratic basis and can also compete for these political powers in the course of periodical elections. Liberalism strives for freedom for all and also resolution of differences through peaceful means within the lines of lawful and democratic litigates. Adam Smith (1723–1790) set forth the theory pertaining to individuals having the rights to structure their moral as well as economic life by themselves. According to this theory, nations would be far stronger with free initiative than directions from the state dictating how people should live their lives. Adam Smith also proposed an end to mercantile and feudal rules in place of which state-granted patents were advocated. He proclaimed a whole new idea of a liberal government termed as "laissez-faire" government. Adam Smith also suggested that a democratic or popular support towards such a liberal government would only ensure its success. "The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state." Even though, there are no determinants to a specific liberal doctrine pertaining international politics, there are certain fundamental notions which can be derived such as the views of Liberal International. Economic liberals do not support collectively security and hold onto non-interventionism whilst, some social liberals favor interventions by United Nations and internationalism. Liberals stand for the rights of every individual to be provided with the basic human liberties. Criticism of the liberal views on freedom has come from all parts of the political spectrum. Proponents of collectivism are at the opposite end of the spectrum to liberals and stress that individual rights do not come before community even if the former are almost abolished. Collectivists come from both the right and left to attack liberal ideas of freedom. Leftists emphasize state socialism and bigger government with higher taxes and welfare system. This runs against the liberal definition f freedom both individual and also economic. On the other hand, right wing conservatives and in previous times the clergy criticize liberal freedom alleging that it has left society without the mores that regulated it in an informal manner. They also condemn the fact that conventional mores have been taken over by abstract ideas that are idealistic and unachievable. Further, religious critics often point out that liberal ideas of freedom are highly promoted in schools, courts and the press. Theodore Dalrymple for instance argues that ideas of individual freedom has in fact undermined traditional message on self control as well as personal responsibility that are at the core of a sustainable and viable society. Liberals counter this argument by pointing out that legal structure and codes are meant to protect inhabitants from harm and not to subject them to morality. Conservative leaders still attempt to legislate on the basis of morality and often lawmakers in many countries can be seen taking lines on the basis of religious views and not of protecting citizens. Liberal thoughts on freedom are also under fire from other schools of thought including anarchists and communitarians. Anarchists continue to emphasize the idea that the existence of the state is illegal and unnecessary; a sharp line from which liberals deviate and assert that it is required to from citizens from harm. Communitarians are slightly less critical of liberal definition of freedom and emphasize the need for social democracy and the role of the state in providing welfare to citizens. International relations is another arena where liberal definition of freedom is under fire because of its emphasis on individual freedom and human rights. Non-interventionists are against the idea of challenging the sovereignty of different nations for the purpose of protecting human rights, something that liberals support. Liberalism is also under attack from federalists especially world federalists who are against the idea of sovereign states. Francis Parker Yockey criticized liberal approach of being non-political and for its vague ideas and attitude on freedom. He accused them of being incapable of precise formulation, arousing emotions and failing to come out as a powerful political group. He points out that, most liberal thinkers who have emphasized their view of freedom have only lent a helping hand to others in succeeding. Economic freedom as emphasized by liberals is also under heavy criticism and leftists continue to reject that private players and markets act on society’s collective benefit. They highlight the plight of those individuals who are unable to compete or uncompetitive because of other reasons. Left wing thinkers also criticize liberal thoughts of economic freedom for creating inequality within and between states. One major criticism in this regard is that ethnic as well as class differentials are difficult to eliminate or stop from growing if liberal freedom is followed by a society. Symptoms include large disparities in health indicators such as infant & maternal mortality rates, and lower life expectancy along with other social indicators like education and housing.   Bibliography C L Ten, Mill on liberty, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, New York, 1981, p. 46. C Langan, Romantic Vagrancy: Wordsworth and the Simulation of Freedom, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995, p. 21. L. Stepelevich, The Capitalist Reader. Arlington House, New Rochelle, p. 135. Read More