Chapter 3 Liberalism Part I Classical Liberalism Places

Chapter 3 – Liberalism Part I

Classical Liberalism Places the “highest value on individual freedom” and posits that “the role of government should be limited” Stresses limited government & “laissez-faire” economy Equality before the law, but no attempt to create actual equality of condition (this would come later) John Locke was the first classical liberal Extended Hobbes’s theory of the social contract Locke argues that the King, who previously ruled by the divine right theory of monarchy, had no legitimacy to rule without the social contract By today’s standards, Locke was a classical liberal and represents a more traditional approach Radical at the time

The Protestant Reformation Martin Luther (1483 -1546) initiates the Protestant reformation against the Roman Catholic Church by tacking his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Church in 1517 Protested the sale of indulgences for the benefit of the Catholic Church Protested general corruption in the Church and called for Reform, not Tolerance Called on a certain degree of individual conscience and thought Never intended to recommend freedom of religion

Protestant Reformation (con’t) Jean Calvin (1509 -1564) developed a theocratic government in Geneva based on the Reformed Church. Also did not intend to promote freedom of religious practice Did encourage that one consult one’s individual conscience – in an effort to understand practice scripture according to Reform Protestantism

Thomas Hobbes (1588 -1679) (A proto- liberal) Before government, people lived in a “state of nature” Although people are generally rational, they are also selfinterested, in Hobbes’s view Conflicts are inevitable For Hobbes, the state of nature is “solitary, poor, brutish, nasty, and short” Social Contract Theory: To exit the State of Nature, people agree to a social contract with the sovereign People give up some freedoms and allow the sovereign to have power over them in return for protection from the “war of all against all” in the state of nature People invest authority in the sovereign to rule in order to prevent chaos, war, and divisiveness.

Thomas Hobbes (1588 -1679) (A proto-liberal) Although the purpose of Leviathan was to derive a new method of giving legitimacy to the Monarch, his premises were proto-liberal: The monarch’s legitimacy comes from the people, not from the power of divine right He used a state of nature argument to set up a new contract theory King is justified only by the consent of the people But the King is given absolute sovereignty Limited government would have to await Locke’s 2 nd Treatise

John Locke (1632 – 1704) People are rational with inherent natural right to life liberty and property (John Locke, The Second Treatise of Government) Also emphasized a right to revolution: the ruled may resist a monarch that deprives them of the rights to life, liberty, and property One of the most important foundational thinkers for the U. S. • Strongly influenced Tom Paine and others who justified the American Revolution on distinctly Lockeian grounds • Declaration of Independence is a Lockeian document (articulates the right to “life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 -1778) First promoted the idea of the “noble savage” Was a Social Contract Theorist, along with Hobbes and Locke Polar opposite of Hobbes on Human Nature: People are inherently cooperative and peaceable Believed that humans would be happier in a state of nature, but that it is unrealistic Social life and institutions “corrupt” people – cause them to be vain, acquisitive, and overly competitive The environment overcomes our inherently cooperative and peaceful human nature Tried to design a social contract that would bring out our naturally good nature

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (published 1651) In the 8 th ed, Hobbes is Reading 3. 10 – please read pages 57 -59 only In the 9 th ed, Hobbes is Reading 3. 11 – please read pages 60 -62 only When can man have productivity rather than strife? When there is “a power able to over-awe column in 8 th ed. /p. 60 right column in 9 th ed. ) then all” (p. 57 right What does he think are the 3 main causes of conflict? Competition, Diffidence, Glory (p. 57 bottom rt & p. 58 top left in 8 th ed. ) (p. 61 top left in 9 th ed. ) How does Hobbes describe life in State of Nature? “There is no place for industry… no arts, no letters, no society… & the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish & short (p. 58 left bottom in 8 th ed. /p. 61 left bottom in 9 th ed. ) Note the requirement of a “common strong power” (Leviathan ruler) for Hobbes’s political philosophy (p. 59 left in 8 th edition/p. 62 left in 9 th edition)

Reading 3. 11/Reading 3. 12: John Locke’s 2 nd Treatise of Gov’t (1690) (8 th ed: pp. 68 -77 only/9 th ed: pp. 71 -79 only) How does Locke characterize the state of nature: as a place of liberty or constraint? Is Locke an atheist or agnostic? Is there a Law of nature? What are the limitations of the state of nature? Did the state of nature exist, in Locke’s view? If so, how and where? Topics on this slide are addressed in the section “Of the State of Nature” (pp. 68 -71 in the 8 th/pp. 71 -74 in the 9 th)

Locke’s 2 nd. Treatise of Government (con’t) Why is property so crucial for Locke’s political theory? (pp. 71 -72/74 -75) What confers ownership on a person, for Locke (p. 72/74) Is there a limit to how much property one may “engross, ” or can one acquire as much as one wishes? (p. 72 bot rt/76 top lft)

Locke’s 2 nd Treatise of Government (con’t) What are the 3 essential natural rights of people? (p. 76 bot left/pp. 79 bot right) What is the 4 th natural right (76 mid lft/79 bottom right onto p. 80) What justifies revolution in Locke’s view? Policy slip ups, mismanagement, high crimes & misdemeanors, or something more? (p. 77 rt/p. 80 rt)

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (Reading 3. 12 in 8 th/Reading 3. 13 in 9 th) Thomas Paine’s Common Sense invoked Locke’s articulation of a right to revolution, in the situation where a people were deprived their natural rights. Paine’s argument: Virtual Representation in the House of Commons was a violation of natural rights Was more radical than Locke: believed that monarchy could not safeguard liberty Mocked and rejected the pretensions and ineffectuality of aristocracy

Liberalism & Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations Liberalism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was an ideology of laisser-faire, laissez-passer. The French Physiocrats made the case against mercantalism by promoting a program of international free trade. Adam Smith argued for minimalistic government: a “night -watchman state” In Smith’s view, Government should be restricted to Defending the nation Promoting justice by protecting property rights Building infrastucture and other prerequisites for commerce

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations (Reading 3. 15/3. 16) Where does the modern division of labor come from, according to Smith? How do we fulfill our individual needs and wants, according to Smith? How does Smith account for differences in talents and specific occupations? Why does Smith compare the differences between people of varying professions against the differences between canine breeds?

Liberalism & the French Revolution (1789 -1799) The French Revolution was based on liberalism and on classical republicanism Declaration of the Rights of Man (liberalism) Civic virtue & “liberte, egalite, fraternite” More radical break (compared to the Amer Rev) from their aristocracy and monarchy Robespierre & the French Revolutionaries wanted to radically remake society Wanted to completely replace religious sentiment with reason & nationalism

Liberalism & the French Revolution (1789 -1799) Third Estate (bourgeoisie & commoners) vs. the 1 st Estate (Clergy) & 2 nd Estate (Aristos) New Calendar: September 22, 1792, renamed 1 Vendemiaire (Vintage Month), Year 1. Over 16, 000 guillotined, 300, 000 imprisoned during the “Reign of Terror” from June 1793 to July 1794 Revolutionary excess led to Thermodorian Reaction (1794) Jacobin Revolutionary leader Robespierre executed Directory (‘ 95 -’ 99) replaces the Committee on Public Safety (‘ 92 -’ 95) as Executive 1789 Napoleon Bonaparte’s coup d’etat on 18 Brumaire ends Revolution Stable republican government in France constructed in 1870