Thread: Social liberalism

Results 1 to 3 of 3

  1. #1
    Join Date Sep 2011
    Location Arctic
    Posts 67
    Rep Power 7

    Default Social liberalism

    Social liberalism, any thoughts about it? I am not sure what to think about it.
    It is hard to disagree with them. They see the problems, but they often end up with defending capitalism. What do you think about social-liberalism?
    economic left/right: -9,22
    social libertarian/authoritarian: -9,38
  2. #2
    Join Date Aug 2010
    Posts 4,245
    Rep Power 87

    Default

    Interestingly enough, Isaiah Berlin, perhaps the most important social liberal of the 20th century, claimed that liberalism was "merely a watered-down version" of anarchism, with both based on the premise that equality and liberty are compatible. I think it's fair to say that many social liberals (though not all) aren't opposed to the ideal of anarchy, which they hold up as a shared ideal, but merely doubtful as to its feasibility, whether or not it would be possible to implement such an extreme form of equality-liberty.

    Given the fact that anarchism, for all intents and purposes, emerged as a synthesis of socialist and liberal ideas, whilst social liberalism is, as the name suggests, the introduction of a more social element to liberalism (remember, by the way, that Berlin was not a supporter of the Liberal Democrats, but of the Labour party), I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that anarchists and social liberals are on the same basic line of the spectrum, with the difference being anarchists' belief in the possibility of a more 'extreme' (or complete) version of equality-liberty than their somewhat more cautious counterparts, nor is it particularly surprising.

    As such, my thoughts are that social liberals are definitely worth paying attention to (particularly their thinkers, some of whom offer ideas which are of great value, if implemented into an anarchist critique; having mentioned Berlin, I could cite his value pluralism as an example), and perhaps constitute a pool of potential anarchists, who need not be convinced of anarchy's desirability, only its feasibility, and the inability of social liberalism to maximise equality-liberty, the aim they have set for it.
  3. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to hatzel For This Useful Post:


  4. #3
    Join Date May 2011
    Location Netherlands
    Posts 4,478
    Rep Power 106

    Default

    What La Sombra said (or paraphrased/cited) about social liberalism being watered down anarchism is more or less accurate. I was a social liberal until I applied the principles of equality and freedom consistently which lead me to libertarian socialist conclusions.

Similar Threads

  1. Social liberalism vs social democracy
    By Ovi in forum Learning
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 12th November 2010, 02:03
  2. Replies: 27
    Last Post: 6th June 2010, 03:38
  3. Liberalism
    By Hanevet in forum Learning
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 25th November 2008, 08:29
  4. Communism and sexual/social liberalism...
    By Cheung Mo in forum Learning
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 12th February 2007, 01:32

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

Tags for this Thread