Classical liberalism - Introduction

Classical liberalism (also called classic liberalism or simply liberalism) is the original form of and nowadays a tendency within liberalism. It is a political school of thought that first emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, upholding individualism and free market economics. Classical liberalism focuses on concepts of individual autonomy and private property, and argues that the sole legitimate function of government is to defend these. Classical liberals promote the use of precisely delineated constitutions that are difficult or impossible to modify, intended to ...

Including:

• Classical liberalism - Introduction
• Classical liberalism - Origins
• Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy
• Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships
• Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms
• Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States
• Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia - Classical liberalism

Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman stated that economic freedom is a necessary condition for the creation and sustainability of civil and political freedoms. Hayek believed the same totalitarian outcomes could occur in Britain (or anywhere else) if the state sought to control the economic freedom of the individual with the policy prescriptions outlined by people like Dewey, Keynes, or Roosevelt. (Classical) liberal studies by the Canadian conservative Fraser Institute, the American conservative Heritage Foundation, and the Wall Street J ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism, economic freedom, and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism, economic freedom, and their relationship with civil and political freedoms

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 documen ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression, Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - 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 documen ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Introduction

Some liberals, including Friedrich August von Hayek, Milton Friedman, and Von Mises, argued that the great depression was not a result of "laissez-faire" capitalism but a result of too much government intervention and regulation upon the market but also that such intervention can and will lead to international conflict (World War I and World War II) but the rise of totalitarian regimes and the loss of political and civil freedoms. Hayek, in his book The Road to Serfdom, believed that the rise of totalitarian regimes, whether they be c ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships

The Great Depression of the 1930s shook public faith in laissez-faire capitalism and "the profit motive," leading many to conclude that the unregulated markets could not produce prosperity and prevent poverty. Many liberals were troubled by the political instability and restrictions on liberty that they believed were caused by the growing relative inequality of wealth. Key liberals of this persuasion, such as John Dewey, John Maynard Keynes, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, argued for the creation of a more elaborate state apparatus to serve as th ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression, Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression

In the mid-20th century, liberalism began to define itself in opposition to totalitarianism. The term was first used by Giovanni Gentile to describe the socio-political system set up by Mussolini. Stalin would apply it to German Nazi-ism, and after the war it became a descriptive term for the common characteristics of fascist and Marxist-Leninist regimes. Totalitarian regimes sought and tried to implement absolute centralized control over all aspects of society, in order to achieve prosperity and stability. Such governments often justified s ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression, Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism

The Industrial Revolution greatly increased material wealth, but also created social problems, such as pollution, child labor, and overcrowding in the cities. Material and scientific progress led to greater longevity and a reduced mortality rate. The population increased dramatically. The downside of this was an oversupply of labor, which led to declining wages. Economic liberals, such as John Locke, Adam Smith, and Wilhelm von Humboldt felt th ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression, Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Classical liberals subscribe to a very basic and universal understanding of the world and the rights of all humans. Classical Liberals believe in private property, free markets, economic competition, freedom from coercion, limited government (all economic freedom), the rule of law, and individual rights (natural rights is also used). These are inherent to all people, of all faiths, cultures, societies, ethnicities, and histories and that all peoples are capable of achieving liberal government and liberal societies not just western cultures. (Classical) liberals prefer a laissez-faire style of government ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression, Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy

Classical liberalism is a political and economic philosophy. With roots in ancient Greek and medieval thought, it received an early expression in the 16th century by the School of Salamanca and its classic formulation in the Enlightenment tradition. The Wealth of Nations (1776) by Scottish philosopher Adam Smith is one of the classic works that rejects the philosophy of mercantilism, which advocated state interventionism in the economy and protectionism. The classical liberals saw mercantalism as enriching privileged elites at ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Liberalism and the great depression, Classical liberalism - Liberalism against totalitarianism, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism versus 'modern' or social liberalism

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Origins

In the United States the Republican Party has paid lip service to classical liberal philosophy since New Deal era. However, Republican president, Richard Nixon proved to be no friend of classical liberal philosophy by instituting price controls on goods during an economic crisis in the 1970s. The Democratic Carter administration oversaw the deregulation of the airline industry while also restricting the money supply (a harsh monetarist policy) to combat stagflation which plagued the United States. Many small liberal gains were achieved under ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States

Classical Liberals subscribe to a very basic and universal understanding of the world and the rights of all humans. Classical Liberals believe in private property, free markets, economic competition, freedom from coercion, limited government (all economic freedom), the rule of law, and individual rights (Natural rights is also used). These are inherent to all people, of all faiths, cultures, societies, ethnicities, and histories and that all peoples are capable of achieving liberal government and liberal societies not just western cultures. (Classical) Liberals prefer a Laissez-faire style of government ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy

Classical liberalism is a political and economic philosophy. With roots in ancient Greek and medieval thought, it received an early expression in the 16th century by the School of Salamanca and its classic formulation in the Enlightenment tradition. The Wealth of Nations (1776) by Scottish philosopher Adam Smith is one of the classic works that rejects the philosophy of mercantilism, which advocated state interventionism in the economy and protectionism. The classical liberals saw mercantalism as enriching privileged elites at ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Origins

Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman stated that economic freedom is a necessary condition for the creation and sustainability of civil and political freedoms. Hayek believed the same totalitarian outcomes could occur in Britain (or anywhere else) if the state sought to control the economic freedom of the individual with the policy prescriptions outlined by people like Dewey, Keynes, or Roosevelt. (Classical) liberal studies by the Canadian conservative Fraser Institute, the American conservative Heritage Foundation, and the Wall Street J ...

See also:

Classical liberalism, Classical liberalism - Introduction, Classical liberalism - Origins, Classical liberalism - Classical liberal philosophy, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism during the Great Depression and the rise of dictatorships, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms, Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism and rhetorical liberalism as practiced in the United States, Classical liberalism - External articles

Read more here: » Classical liberalism: Encyclopedia II - Classical liberalism - Classical liberalism economic freedom and their relationship with civil and political freedoms