dual facet of liberalism

Liberalism, as the word would imply, cherishes freedom. This however is not as straight forward as may at first appear. When asking questions such as what is meant by freedom, and freedom from what, we get contrasting ideas from various strands within the liberal tradition. Where early liberals ?had wanted government to interfere as little as possible?, modern liberals came to believe the government should deliver ?health, housing, pensions and education?, including ?managing, or at least regulating,? the economy (Heywood pg26, 1998). This led to the development of two traditions, ?classical and modern?, within liberalism (Heywood pg26, 1998).

Classical liberalism, the earliest of the liberal traditions, whose ideas developed during the ?transition from feudalism to capitalism?, reaching their high point during the ?industrialisation of the 19th century? (Heywood pg 48, 1998). Classical liberalism is not merely a nineteenth century form of liberalism, it?s principles found growing appeal in the second half of the 20th century, with an increase in popularity for its ideas occurring in reaction to ?growing state involv

ement in economic and social life? (Heywood pg 48, 1998).

Adam Smith?s book, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of Wealth of Nations (1776), made a telling contribution to the debate on ?the desirable role of governmet within civil society? (Heywood pg51, 1998), drawing his ideas from liberal rationalist assumptions, such as John Locke?s ?social contract?, that the ?legitimate? role of government was limited to the protection of ?life, liberty and property? (Heywood pg49, 1998). Adam Smith wrote in a time when Mercantilism, the dominating idea of the 16th and 17th century, was encouraging governments to ?intervene? in economic life in an attempt to ?encourage? the exportation of goods, whilst restricting imports. Smith?s writing were designed to attack mercantilism, arguing instead that ?the economy works best when left alone? (Heywood pg52, 1998). The market, according to Smith, is ?a self-regulating mechanism? and should be free from government interference, because it is managed by what Smith was referred to as ?an invisible hand? (Heywood pg53, 1998), for example businesses, if wanting to make a profit ,will be guided towards producing a product that consumers are willing to buy. The high point of free market beliefs was reached with the doctrine of ?laissez fairre?, meaning ?to leave to be?, the idea that the state actually has no involvement in the economy (Heywood pg53, 1998). By the 20th late century, faith in the free market had been revived by both the ?Reagen administration in the US? and the ?Thatcher and Major governments in the UK? who sought, using liberal rhetoric, to release the ?dead hand? of government from the economy, allowing the natural vigour of the economy to assert itself. (Heywood pg54, 1998).

Some topics in this essay:
TH Green, Thatcher Major, Caruso Liberalism, Employment Money, Adam Smith, Social Darwinism, Origin Species1859, Social Darwinists, War Keynsian, Wealth Nations, classical liberalism, 20th century, heywood pg58 1998, pg55 1998, free market, pg58 1998, heywood pg59, heywood pg55, pg59 1998, heywood pg59 1998, heywood pg58, heywood pg55 1998, laissez fairre, heywood pg54 1998, heywood pg 55,