This document provides an overview of liberalism and related concepts through a series of slides. It begins by discussing the organic vs mechanistic worldviews and how they relate to liberal philosophy. It then covers key elements of liberalism like individualism, equality, liberty, and rationality. Other topics summarized include possessive individualism, liberal economics, objectivism, John Rawl's theory of justice, and how liberalism functions as a dominant ideology today. The summary synthesizes the main ideas and progression of concepts discussed across the numerous slides.

1. Liberalism
Dr. Christopher S. Rice

2. The American
Political Spectrum is
small …

4. (cc) 2005 Flickr user jurvetson
The Western
Transformation
1500-1700
4

5. (cc) 2008 Flickr user Peter from Wellington
Organic vs.
Mechanistic
5

6. (cc) 2008 Flickr user h.koppdelaney
Organic Worldview
6

7. First Nature
7
(cc) 2006 Flickr user Bruno Monginoux

8. Second Nature
(cc) 2007 Flickr user autan
8

9. The world is a
living world…

10. Ruach

12. Gaia

13. (cc) 2006 Flickr user Euthman
Unrestrained growth
is an aberration,
13

14. (cc) 2008 Flickr user Ralph Bijker
Mechanisti
c
14

15. The world is a
“dead” world…
15
(cc) 2006 Flickr user Caro Wallis

16. (cc) 2006 Flickr user Wolfgang Kopp
Lack of continuous
growth = death
16

17. (cc) 2005 Flickr user Tracy O
17

18. (cc) 2007 Flickr user Diodoro
The rise of
capitalism

19. Logical Positivism
Leads to the
Mechanistic
Worldview

23. Cogito Ergo Sum

25. Mechanistic
Philosophy

27. Logical Positivism

28. Is science
objective?
Economics?

30. The Liberal concept of agency is
based on the theory of
possessive individualism

31. Possessive Individualism
1. What makes one human is freedom from dependence on the wills of
others.
2. Freedom from dependence on others means freedom from any
relations with others except those relations which the individual
enters voluntarily with a view to his own interest.
3. The individual is essentially the proprietor of his or her own person
and capacities, for which he or she owes nothing to society.
4. Although an individual cannot alienate the whole of his property in
his own person, he may alienate his capacity to labor.
5. Human society consists of a series of market relations – Since the
individual is human only in so far as free, and free only in so far as
proprietor of him- or herself, human society can only be a series of
relations between sole proprietors, i.e., a series of market relations.
6. Since freedom from the wills of others is what makes one human,
each individual’s freedom can rightfully be limited only by such
obligations and rules as are necessary to secure the same freedom
for others.
7. Political society is a human contrivance for the protection of the
individual’s property in his person and goods, and (therefore) for the
maintenance of orderly relations of exchange between individuals
regarded as proprietors of themselves.
(C. B. Macpherson, The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism)

32. Liberal Philosophy

33. 4

34. Four Elements of Liberal
Philosophy
Equality
Liberty
Individualit
Rationality
y

35. Four Elements of Liberal
Philosophy
Equality
Liberty
Individualit
Rationality
y

36. Equality of
Opportunity vs.
Equality of Outcome

37. Four Elements of Liberal
Philosophy
Equality
Liberty
Individualit
Rationality
y

38. Four Elements of Liberal
Philosophy
Equality
Liberty
Individualit
Rationality
y

39. Four Elements of Liberal
Philosophy
Equality
Liberty
Individualit
Rationality
y

40. Four Elements of Liberal
Philosophy
Equality
Liberty
Individualit
Rationality
y

41. Liberal Society

42. Feudalism
Capitalism

43. Why a free-market
economy is important…

44. The Pursuit of The Good

45. Liberal Politics

46. strict distinction between
the
state and civil
society

47. ambivalence about
the
benefits of democracy

48. Government is GREAT!
Government is BAD!

49. Utilitarianism

51. The Principle of
Utility Maximization

52. (cc) 2008 Flickr user gruntzooki
Government should
ameliorate the
effects
52

53. 2
general conclusions
about government

54. (cc) 2007 Flickr user afroboof
Government should
leave people
alone.
54

55. Increase democratic
participation
55
(cc) 2008 Flickr user Edward DC

56. John Stuart Mill

57. Defend and Extend
individual liberty

58. 58
(cc) 2008 Flickr user jukebox 909

59. Harm Principle
Every sane adult should be
free to do whatever he or
she wants as long as his
or her actions do not harm,
or threaten to harm,
others.

61. Natural
Rights

62. Utility
Society, as a whole,
will benefit if people
are allowed to think
and act freely.

63. Representative
democracy only for the
educated, wealthy?

64. Neoclassical
liberalism
VS.
Welfare Liberalism

65. Negative VS.
Positive
Freedom

66. Neoclassical
liberalism

67. Social Darwinism

71. Welfare Liberalism

72. Government as a
POSITIVE
force

74. Socialism
VS.
Welfare
Liberalism

76. Option #1:
Money can be divided up such that
20% of us will get 82.7% of the
income and property, 20% will get
11.7% of income and property, 20%
will get 2.3% of income, 20% will get
1.9%, and the last 20% will get
1.4%.

77. Option #2:
Divide it up such that everyone
gets an equal share of the wealth
and property, regardless of job or
status. (Each group will get 20%
of income, divided equally).

79. (cc) 2008 Flickr user left-hand
The Veil of
Ignorance
79

80. (cc) 2008 Flickr user Tostie14
The Original Position
80

81. The Original Position
Non-presocial liberal ideas that, if
consensually held, would lead
everyone to accept the equal liberty
and difference principles as the
basis for mutually beneficial social
cooperation.

82. 4 Ideas of
The Original
Position

83. Equal Respect
Non-Risky
Rationality
Mutual
Disinterestedness
The Veil of
Ignorance
83

84. Equal Respect
Non-Risky
Rationality
Mutual
Disinterestedness
The Veil of
Ignorance
84

85. Equal Respect
Non-Risky
Rationality
Mutual
Disinterestedness
The Veil of
Ignorance
85

86. Equal Respect
Non-Risky
Rationality
Mutual
Disinterestedness
The Veil of
Ignorance
86

87. Equal Respect
Non-Risky
Rationality
Mutual
Disinterestedness
The Veil of
Ignorance
87

88. Equal Respect
Non-Risky
Rationality
Mutual
Disinterestedness
The Veil of
Ignorance
88

89. 2
Principles of Justice

90. Equal Liberty
Principle
The state must provide the
most extensive system of
equal liberties that is feasible
and desirable. All individuals
must enjoy the greatest
degree of liberty consistent
with the enjoyment of like
liberty by everyone else.

91. Difference Principle
Primary social goods are to
be distributed equally unless
an unequal distribution would
improve the welfare of the
least well-off in society.

92. PROBLEMS

93. Liberal Economics

96. Laissez-faire
Capitalism and
Freedom

98. Keynesian Economics

100. The problem of
market failures and
inefficiencies

101. The many benefits of capitalism
are offset by certain problems:
• Complete market freedom results in
various types of market failures.
• Monopolies which undermine
competition & lead to concentrated
power.
• Business cycles which create
economic inefficiency and insecurity.

102. The many benefits of capitalism
are offset by certain problems:
• Capitalism creates externalities
which harm the broader public.
• Pure Market Systems unable to
provide many public goods.
• Wealth isn’t distributed to everyone.

103. 2
Methods of Stimulating the
Economy

104. Reduce taxes

105. Increase
government
expenditures

106. “Priming the Pump”
+
The “Multiplier
Effect”

107. In case of an
overheated
economy…

108. Three ways to deal with
deficits:
• Grow your way out of it – as
incomes rise, taxes rise as people
move up through the tax brackets.
• Increase income taxes on the
wealthy, create luxury taxes, etc.
• Reduce government spending in
specific areas where it is no longer
needed.

109. Ayn
Rand

112. Objectivism

113. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;

114. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;

115. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;

116. Principles of Objectivism
1. That reality is what it is, that things are what they
are, independent of anyone's beliefs, feelings,
judgments or opinions -- that existence exists, that A
is A;
2. That reason, the faculty that identifies and
integrates the material provided by the various
senses, is fully competent, in principle, to
understand the facts of reality;
3. That any form of irrationalism, supernaturalism, or
mysticism, any claim to a nonsensory, nonrational
form of knowledge, is to be rejected;
4. That a rational code of ethics is possible and is
derivable from an appropriate assessment of the
nature of human beings as well as the nature of
reality;

117. Principles of Objectivism
5. That the standard of the good is not God or the
alleged needs of society but rather "Man's life,"
that which is objectively required for man's or
woman's life, survival, and well-being;
6. That a human being is an end in him- or herself,
that each one of us has the right to exist for our
own sake, neither sacrificing others to self nor self
to others;
7. That the principles of justice and respect for
individuality autonomy, and personal rights must
replace the principle of sacrifice in human
relationships;

118. Principles of Objectivism
5. That the standard of the good is not God or the
alleged needs of society but rather "Man's life,"
that which is objectively required for man's or
woman's life, survival, and well-being;
6. That a human being is an end in him- or herself,
that each one of us has the right to exist for our
own sake, neither sacrificing others to self nor self
to others;
7. That the principles of justice and respect for
individuality autonomy, and personal rights must
replace the principle of sacrifice in human
relationships;

119. Principles of Objectivism
5. That the standard of the good is not God or the
alleged needs of society but rather "Man's life,"
that which is objectively required for man's or
woman's life, survival, and well-being;
6. That a human being is an end in him- or herself,
that each one of us has the right to exist for our
own sake, neither sacrificing others to self nor self
to others;
7. That the principles of justice and respect for
individuality autonomy, and personal rights must
replace the principle of sacrifice in human
relationships;

120. Principles of Objectivism
8. That no individual -- and no group -- has the moral
right to initiate the use of force against others;
9. That force is permissible only in retaliation and only
against those who have initiated its use;
10.That the organizing principle of a moral society is
respect for individual rights and that the sole
appropriate function of government is to act as
guardian and protector of individual rights.

121. Principles of Objectivism
8. That no individual -- and no group -- has the moral
right to initiate the use of force against others;
9. That force is permissible only in retaliation and only
against those who have initiated its use;
10.That the organizing principle of a moral society is
respect for individual rights and that the sole
appropriate function of government is to act as
guardian and protector of individual rights.

122. Principles of Objectivism
8. That no individual -- and no group -- has the moral
right to initiate the use of force against others;
9. That force is permissible only in retaliation and only
against those who have initiated its use;
10.That the organizing principle of a moral society is
respect for individual rights and that the sole
appropriate function of government is to act as
guardian and protector of individual rights.

123. Human Nature

124. 124

125. 125

126. The Social Contract

127. 127

128. 128

130. Liberalism as
Meta-Ideology

131. “The triumph of the West, of the
Western idea, is evident first of
all in the total exhaustion of
viable systematic alternatives to
Western liberalism.”
Francis Fukuyama, The End of History

132. liberalism is the
dominant ideology
not
un-ideological