Leonard Trelawney Hobhouse was a key Liberal thinker, while influenced by Toynbee and T.H.Green, he also ‘sought to distance himself from the German idealist philosophy that had informed the work of Green’ (Haddock, 2008) he was heavily engaged in reacting to contemporary challenges of liberalism, in his book ‘Liberalism’ (1964) he attempts to redefine liberalism through more socialist ideals as, ‘unlike earlier liberals such as Tocqueville, he saw no necessary opposition between liberalism and socialism’(Haddock, 2008).
Hobhouse promotes an, Organic view of society and promote the notion of a common good which the state should promote through involvement in social relationships such as an education system and healthcare system and not as Classical Liberals would argue, just the management of the market. This is because, Hobhouse believes in equality of opportunity, which allows for the existence of a common good, referring to Green's phrase; ‘he finds his own good in the common good’ (Vincent, 2011) this is a task Hobhouse’s believes the state should aid in. To many Hobhouse’s ‘New Liberalism has been variously regarded as the natural …show more content…
Hobhouse believes, the individual’s personality, and postulates free scope for the development of personality are shaped by the ‘common good’ this is defined by society, this is why organicism is importance to Hobhouse, as it is the foundation not only of equal rights before the law, and equality of opportunity. This is important as Hobhouse believes there is no natural ‘harmony of interests’ but ‘people have reached the point where they could organize themselves into a harmonized social system that could be of benefit for all individuals that are part of that system’ (Hobhouse,
Hobhouse promotes an, Organic view of society and promote the notion of a common good which the state should promote through involvement in social relationships such as an education system and healthcare system and not as Classical Liberals would argue, just the management of the market. This is because, Hobhouse believes in equality of opportunity, which allows for the existence of a common good, referring to Green's phrase; ‘he finds his own good in the common good’ (Vincent, 2011) this is a task Hobhouse’s believes the state should aid in. To many Hobhouse’s ‘New Liberalism has been variously regarded as the natural …show more content…
Hobhouse believes, the individual’s personality, and postulates free scope for the development of personality are shaped by the ‘common good’ this is defined by society, this is why organicism is importance to Hobhouse, as it is the foundation not only of equal rights before the law, and equality of opportunity. This is important as Hobhouse believes there is no natural ‘harmony of interests’ but ‘people have reached the point where they could organize themselves into a harmonized social system that could be of benefit for all individuals that are part of that system’ (Hobhouse,