Classical liberal
From Libertarian Wiki
A classical liberal is someone who is an adherent to the political philosophy of "Classical liberalism". This is a political school of thought that upholds the rights of individual autonomy and private property, and maintains that governments should serve solely to defend those rights. Classical liberals promote the use of precisely delineated constitutions in the formation of governments, to ensure that their role is constrained to a defensive, rather than an interventionist, role. "Classical liberalism" can refer to early (approximately pre-1850) liberalism, or it can refer to modern economic liberalism which is similar to and derived from the historical classical liberals. The term neo-classical liberal is also used to describe those who appeal to the ideas of the original liberals.
Introduction
The classic liberal philosophy places a particular emphasis on the sovereignty of the individual, with private property rights being seen as essential to individual liberty. It forms the philosophy underpinning of the laissez-faire philosophy. The precepts of classic liberalism were probably best described by John Locke and Adam Smith, and illuminated much of the thought at the time of the American revolution. As a result, the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence are both documents that embody many principles of classic liberalism.
Modern liberalism tends to deviate from this definition of the term "liberal" in that it espouses the use of the power of government to achieve a variety of desirable goals, ranging from social justice to economic equality. The libertarian movement is probably the closest modern derivative of classic liberalism, although other political movements and parties sometimes incorporate its ideals, and often borrow from its rhetoric. The CATO Institute briefly discusses these changes and their views on the term Classical Liberalism, stating from their website:
- "Classical liberal" is a bit closer to the mark, but the word "classical" connotes a backward-looking philosophy. Finally, "liberal" may well be the perfect word in most of the world--the liberals in societies from China to Iran to South Africa to Argentina are supporters of human rights and free markets--but its meaning has clearly been corrupted by contemporary American liberals."
Classical liberals often prefer to call themselves liberals because they see themselves as the only rightful inheritors of Liberalism.
In the United States
The Libertarian Party is a party in the United States that whole heartedly supports classical liberalism.
Within the United States, classical liberalism is rhetorically confused with conservatism. The CATO Instutite states from its website:
- " Only in America do people seem to refer to free-market capitalism--the most progressive, dynamic, and ever-changing system the world has ever known--as conservative. Additionally, many contemporary American conservatives favor state intervention in some areas, most notably in trade and into our private lives."
According to most classical liberals, modern liberalism as it is practiced, is mostly rhetorical lip service to liberalism's highest ideals of freedom, rather than a function of its basic assumptions: the free market.
