The philosophy of liberalism is the best motivating force for bettering the human condition because it emphasizes the individual over society as a whole. Its central focus is the hope of freedom, individual expression and equality. Other popular terms regarding liberalism include free market, democracy and civil rights. The argument for liberalism grew popular with the coming of the Age of Enlightenment as people longed for more individualism over the tradition authority of monarchs. Of course, there were conservatives like Clemens von Metternich who opposed such changes, but many philosophers were promoting cooperation to develop a society with more freedoms.
The ideology of Liberalism began during the American Revolution. Adam Smith, a Scottish …show more content…
Although the concept benefitted European colonial empires, there was strong opposition from merchants. In a mercantilist society, the government has narrow isolating policies for refusing imports. Citizens are restricted from experiencing a diversity of goods that their nation isn’t capable or as capable of producing. If one nation refused imports of another, that nation might begin refusing imports. This could lead to heavy competition and militarism simply because citizens wanted more unique goods. Another free market benefit would be lower cost of some products if another nation could more efficiently produce it. Heavy control of the state due to an emphasis on domestic economic control hinders this progress toward better relationships and creates more tension among merchants and other nations.
Another factor important to the concept of liberalism was the Enlightenment and the progress in breaking through tradition. At this time, slogans such as "liberty, equality, fraternity" were born, and philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau established ideas of individualism as promoting cooperation to develop a better …show more content…
“Hobbes did not consider the ruler or monarch to be ordained by God (as monarchs often claimed in the divine right of kings) or some external force, but by the people themselves since "authority is given by the subjects themselves."” (Gingrich). John Locke felt that the “good, rational, social, cooperative and tolerant” (Gingrich) aspects of human nature allowed for the rights to freedom and autonomy. After all, didn’t the current state of government come about because individuals agreed to be governed in order to protect
The ideology of Liberalism began during the American Revolution. Adam Smith, a Scottish …show more content…
Although the concept benefitted European colonial empires, there was strong opposition from merchants. In a mercantilist society, the government has narrow isolating policies for refusing imports. Citizens are restricted from experiencing a diversity of goods that their nation isn’t capable or as capable of producing. If one nation refused imports of another, that nation might begin refusing imports. This could lead to heavy competition and militarism simply because citizens wanted more unique goods. Another free market benefit would be lower cost of some products if another nation could more efficiently produce it. Heavy control of the state due to an emphasis on domestic economic control hinders this progress toward better relationships and creates more tension among merchants and other nations.
Another factor important to the concept of liberalism was the Enlightenment and the progress in breaking through tradition. At this time, slogans such as "liberty, equality, fraternity" were born, and philosophers such as Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau established ideas of individualism as promoting cooperation to develop a better …show more content…
“Hobbes did not consider the ruler or monarch to be ordained by God (as monarchs often claimed in the divine right of kings) or some external force, but by the people themselves since "authority is given by the subjects themselves."” (Gingrich). John Locke felt that the “good, rational, social, cooperative and tolerant” (Gingrich) aspects of human nature allowed for the rights to freedom and autonomy. After all, didn’t the current state of government come about because individuals agreed to be governed in order to protect