(I) Identify the several varieties of liberalism discussed in the chapter on liberalism and the historical circumstances in which they emerged.
There are several varieties of liberalism that are discussed in the text of “Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal” by Terence Ball and Richard Dagger. Some of these varieties are neoclassical liberals, welfare liberals, and libertarian anarchists.
The first variation of liberalism discussed is neoclassical liberals, who believe the need to limit government to keep it from robbing the people of freedom. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was very influential to some Social Darwinists, like Herbert Spencer, would say “survival of the fittest”. Spencer believed that …show more content…
Classical and modern conservatives have different conceptions of human nature throughout time. They both have some ideas of overseeing human nature but also wanting some sort of change.
Classical conservatives believed that “each person has a particular station or status and a stake in the larger society into which he or she is born, lives and dies.”(Ball and Dagger p.112) The conception was that society is a complex web of interdependent and mutual relationships. This making the idea that political activity is mainly used to preserve the social fabric, which is what keeps the “stations and status” that are carried from generation to generation to continue. They viewed humans as needing oversight to keep this easily torn fabric together so that society will keep working together to promote freedom by ordered …show more content…
This is seen with the “buy now and pay later” marketing and the want for of life and luxury and ease. The people “want to lower taxes and at the same time increased government spending for their pet projects.”(Ball and Dagger p.114) The high divorce and crime rates, drug use, and legalized abortion brought about the Religious Right seeing that the United States has lost its ways. Modern conservatives have the same message of needing to preserve or to restore the discipline and self-restraint that is needed in a decent society.
Classical and modern conservatives have different views for different times. Classical conservatives needing to supervise the social fabric of human nature to keep it tight knit and modern conservatives wanting to restore self-restraint of human nature due to society being dependent on the government and