What is liberalism?

14/10/2025 14 min
What is liberalism?

Listen "What is liberalism?"

Episode Synopsis

Trey and Justin continue their series on contemporary political ideologies by examining liberalism. They explore its historical roots, key thinkers like Hobbes and Locke, and the evolution of liberal thought through figures such as Mill and Rawls. The discussion highlights the differences between classical and social liberalism, the implications of social contract theory, and the critique of liberalism by communitarians. The conversation concludes with reflections on the future of liberalism and its relevance in modern politics.

Major topics discussed include


Liberalism’s roots in the Enlightenment and emphasizes individual liberty

Social contract theory

Hobbes and Locke provide contrasting views on human nature

The connections between the Declaration of Independence and Locke

Mill’s expansion of the concept of liberty

Adam Smith's economic theories and their alignment with classical liberalism

Social liberalisms desire to ensure meaningful choices for all individuals

John Rawls and the concept of the veil of ignorance to discuss justice


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