Political philosophyLesson 2 of 3 in the course Political Ideology

Classical Liberalism, Mill, FDR, and Hayek on Liberty and Government

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces classical liberalism and traces how debates about political equality and personal liberty developed within the liberal tradition. It also examines John Stuart Mill’s argument that individual freedom should extend further than classical liberals such as John Locke would allow.

Classical liberalism is a system of thought combining natural rights, limited government, and capitalism. Capitalism is an economic arrangement based on private property and the freedom to invest wealth or talent in pursuit of profit. Classical liberals supported capitalism within nations and free trade among nations, subject to the moral limits of natural law.

All flashcards

Capitalism
An economic arrangement based on private property and freedom to invest wealth or talent for profit.
Political equality
The idea that people should have equal standing in political participation, including voting.
Mill’s argument for open discussion
Debate helps people confront different arguments and identify mistaken or dangerous ideas.
FDR’s rationale for the New Deal
Government action could ease economic insecurity and help preserve rights and liberty over the long term.
Hayek’s account of market prices
Prices convey information about supply and demand that helps coordinate production and resource allocation.

Quiz questions

  1. Which combination characterizes classical liberalism?Answer: Natural rights, limited government, and capitalism.
  2. In Locke’s account, what does rejecting moral license mean?Answer: Liberty does not include conduct that damages rights, oneself, or the foundations of social peace.
  3. Under Mill’s harm principle, when may an adult’s freedom generally be restricted?Answer: To prevent harm to other people, not merely to prevent harm to the adult.
  4. Why did FDR argue that government programs could support liberal values?Answer: They could reduce economic insecurity and forestall demands for even broader controls.
  5. According to Hayek, what role do prices play in a relatively free market?Answer: They signal changes in supply and demand and help guide production and resource use.

Based on Introduction to Political Science by Mark Carl Rom, Masaki Hidaka, Rachel Bzostek Walker (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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