What are the tensions between modern and classical liberalism?

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Daniel Ross

What are the tensions between modern and classical liberalism? (45)

The ideas of modern liberals are quite different from those of classical liberals. However, even though there are tensions between the two forms of liberalism over a variety of topics, they nevertheless agree on the main liberalistic concept on individualism, the belief in individual sovereignty, that individuals should be the ultimate decision makers on how they behave. In spite of this fundamental consensus, there is a still tension between classical and modern liberalists over numerous topics, such as over the concept of the state, their views on equality of opportunity, and also over their belied of freedom.

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The first cause of tension between classical and modern liberals is their differing opinions concerning the state. Classical liberals subscribe to the idea of negative freedom. This is the idea of an absence of and government interference and external constraints of the individual’s self-regarding acts. Negative freedom suggests a clear distinction between the individual and the state. Since all liberals subscribe to the Hobbesian view of human nature – the belief that all people are “selfish, aggressive and competitive”. Therefore the state acts in its own interest, and is also oppressive, imposing a collective upon society, thus limiting the ...

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