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What is the historical context that gave rise to liberalism as a political philosophy?

Carisa Lettice

The emergence of liberalism as a political philosophy can be traced back to the 17th and 18th centuries, known as the Age of Enlightenment. This period was marked by a profound interest in the advancement of knowledge and a renewed questioning of established authorities, particularly those of the Church and the State.

Many Enlightenment thinkers believed that individuals possessed inherent rights and freedoms which were being suppressed by an absolutist, authoritarian state. In response, they developed a political philosophy based on the principles of individual liberty, equality before the law, and the protection of property rights. This philosophy came to be known as liberalism.

The key figures associated with the emergence of liberalism include John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Locke's Two Treatises of Government, published in 1689, argued that individuals have natural rights which the state must protect, and that the government only has legitimacy if it is based on the consent of the governed. Rousseau's Social Contract, published in 1762, similarly argued that individuals have rights which the state must respect and that legitimate government must derive from the general will of the people.

The rise of liberalism as a political philosophy was fueled by several factors, including rapid economic growth, expanding global trade, and the increasing power of merchants and commercial interests. These developments created opportunities for individuals to amass wealth and power outside of the traditional structures of feudalism, and liberalism's emphasis on individual rights and freedoms provided a powerful justification for this new order.

However, the emergence of liberalism was also deeply rooted in the political and social upheavals of the time. The Age of Enlightenment was marked by numerous conflicts and revolutions, including the English Civil War, the American Revolution, and the French Revolution. These events challenged existing power structures and paved the way for the rise of liberal ideals as a means of maintaining social stability in a rapidly changing world.

In conclusion, the historical context that gave rise to liberalism as a political philosophy was the Age of Enlightenment, characterized by a renewed questioning of established authority and a belief in the inherent rights and freedoms of individuals. The emergence of liberalism was fueled by rapid economic growth, expanding global trade, and the increasing power of merchants and commercial interests, as well as by the political and social upheavals of the time.