1. How do liberals view freedom?
- 10 MARKS
LIBERALISM AND FREEDOM

2. Early liberals
 Key concept/central value of all liberals
 Early liberals – political freedom – self determination –
freedom of a people to determine their own govt, free from
an external power
 Individual liberty - believe in the importance of the freedom
of the individual – Locke – liberty of the individual is a
natural right
 Bentham - utilitarian – each individual is the best judge of
his/her interests
 Only in a state of liberty are people able to realise their true
potential
 Concerns about over powerful govt and paternalism
 People should be from restrictions, unless they are
designed to safeguard the freedom of others - Mill

3. Classical liberalism
 Classical liberalism tends to be based around
the concept of negative freedom
 Society should be constructed in a way to
minimise restrictions on the liberty of the
individual
 Role of state should be limited to law and
order and defence so as to ensure individual
liberty

4. Modern liberalism
 Positive freedom - situation where individuals
are able to pursue their personal
development, self realisation and autonomy
 TH Green – humans were altruistic beings with a
social responsibility to allow all individuals to
develop and attain individuality, skills knowledge
and fulfilment
 Positive freedom - empowerment of individuals
 An enabling state needed to provide social
conditions for everyone to enjoy positive
freedom

5. Final paragraph
 State could be given the authority and power
to prevent individuals from harming others
 Locke – social contract - individuals have
foregone a degree of freedom in order to set
up a viable system of law
 Classical liberals and neo liberals – stress the
importance of economic freedom