Compare And Contrast Classical Liberalism And Conservatism

Classical Liberalism and Conservatism To justly compare modern liberalism and modern conservatism one must realize where these modern constructs preceded from. One must look at classical liberalism and conservatism and what doctrines helped to shape them and make them different from each other. Classical liberalism dates back to the seventeenth century and lasted until the nineteenth century. This was during the time that kings ruled because God selected the king’s family to shepherd His people. Classical liberalism opposed the “divine rights of Kings” (PP Classical Liberalism) and wanted to maximize the rights of the people and minimize the power if the state. It was during this time that liberalists like John Locke, Adam Smith, Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, Immanuel Kant, etc. gained notoriety. Locke created a book, Two Treatises of Government (1689), which opposed Hobbes’s idea of an all-powerful state for control, security, and peace throughout the masses. Smith wrote two books within this classical liberalism era, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776), wanted “free markets” (PP Classical Liberalism) for the individuals. These free markets would add more rights for the individual rather than the state. To grasp a better understanding of what Locke and Smith and the other notable liberalists were fighting for one must understand the principles behind classical liberalism. There are eight main tenets of classical liberalism. The first theory is institutions should be restrained if they threaten liberty of an individual. An example of this theory is the right to freedom of speech. The first amendment allows for United States citizens to speak their minds while restraining the government from oppressing that liberty. Though it is not always followed by the government, for good reason, a person can say what they feel is right without fear of repercussion from the government. The second theory of classical liberalism deals with human nature. Thomas Paine stated, “[man] is born ignorant but not wicked. Government is the ‘necessary evil’” (PP Clasical Liberalism). The third theory is in regards to reason.
This theory states that obedience to any other entity besides reason (like tradition, revelation or faith) threatens society’s progress. This can be seen multiple times in history, like the Y2K scare and whenever some devout Christian claims to have a word from god that the world will end. When people go against their own reasoning progress is reverted, if not paused. The fourth theory of classical liberalism regards progress of mankind as a whole. In the Classical Liberalism PowerPoint, it is stated that mankind will advance “[by] expanding knowledge, allowing debate, improving economic conditions, banish superstition and eliminate old attitudes etc…” (PP Classical Liberalism). This is very true and goes hand-in-hand with the theory regarding reason. Without reason none of these aspects would progress mankind, but without these aspects reason would only be an ability to decipher something without any progression. The fifth theory of classical liberalism deals with equality. The classical liberals worried more “[of] opportunity rather than outcome” (PP Classical Liberalism). When thinking of the masses, the classical liberals thought that men with property should have
rights.