Liberalism, Loose or Strict

In: The independent review: journal of political economy, Band 9, Heft 3, S. 427-432

Abstract

Argues that liberalism lacks an irreducible & unalterable core element making it something of a loose political doctrine. This looseness is attributed to its foundations on the value of liberty; ie, it depends on value judgments. Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, & John Stuart Mill on liberalism are seen as responsible for denying liberalism a firm identity & to have hung liberalism with a utilitarian agenda. A call is made for a stricter liberalism, suggesting two basic propositions: a logical one is the presumption of freedom, & a moral one is the rejection of the rules of submission that imply the obligation of political obedience. 2 References. J. Zendejas