Podcast
Questions and Answers
According to Classical Liberalism, what is the ideal social interaction?
According to Classical Liberalism, what is the ideal social interaction?
Which of the following is NOT aligned with the historical development of Classical Liberalism?
Which of the following is NOT aligned with the historical development of Classical Liberalism?
Who is considered one of the architects of Classical Liberalism?
Who is considered one of the architects of Classical Liberalism?
Which branch of neoclassical economics is closely aligned with the historical development of Classical Liberalism?
Which branch of neoclassical economics is closely aligned with the historical development of Classical Liberalism?
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What is the primary determinant of social outcomes according to Classical Liberalism?
What is the primary determinant of social outcomes according to Classical Liberalism?
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Which of the following is a current body of thought culminating in the historical development of Classical Liberalism?
Which of the following is a current body of thought culminating in the historical development of Classical Liberalism?
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According to the passage, Hobbes envisioned the world as a mechanical system operating according to:
According to the passage, Hobbes envisioned the world as a mechanical system operating according to:
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Hobbes claimed that in the absence of morality, humans would:
Hobbes claimed that in the absence of morality, humans would:
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According to Hobbes, the pursuit of wealth would bring individuals into conflict with one another, leading to:
According to Hobbes, the pursuit of wealth would bring individuals into conflict with one another, leading to:
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Hobbes reasoned that self-interested persons would voluntarily enter into a 'social contract' with others to establish:
Hobbes reasoned that self-interested persons would voluntarily enter into a 'social contract' with others to establish:
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The Hobbesian legacy has had a major impact on which ideological movement?
The Hobbesian legacy has had a major impact on which ideological movement?
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According to Hobbes, what did he oppose as the source of royal power?
According to Hobbes, what did he oppose as the source of royal power?
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What does Hobbes consider as the primary purpose of human existence?
What does Hobbes consider as the primary purpose of human existence?
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In Hobbes's view, what is presumed to be the purpose of politics?
In Hobbes's view, what is presumed to be the purpose of politics?
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What did Hobbes conclude regarding the resistance to royal authority?
What did Hobbes conclude regarding the resistance to royal authority?
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Classical Liberalism envisions society as an aggregation of autonomous individuals seeking to pursue their ______ interests.
Classical Liberalism envisions society as an aggregation of autonomous individuals seeking to pursue their ______ interests.
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Ideally, all social interaction should consist of voluntary exchanges among persons, and every individual has the right to be free from the arbitrary exercise of ______.
Ideally, all social interaction should consist of voluntary exchanges among persons, and every individual has the right to be free from the arbitrary exercise of ______.
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With its focus on individual choice as the primary determinant of social outcomes, Classical Liberalism is ideally suited for expression in the form of ______ theory.
With its focus on individual choice as the primary determinant of social outcomes, Classical Liberalism is ideally suited for expression in the form of ______ theory.
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In fact, the historical development of Classical Liberalism closely aligns with the history of ______ thought, starting with classical political economy.
In fact, the historical development of Classical Liberalism closely aligns with the history of ______ thought, starting with classical political economy.
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Thomas Hobbes was one of the first social theorists to adopt the methods of the newly emerging natural sciences for the analysis of human ______.
Thomas Hobbes was one of the first social theorists to adopt the methods of the newly emerging natural sciences for the analysis of human ______.
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The Austrian branch of neoclassical economics is closely aligned with the historical development of Classical ______.
The Austrian branch of neoclassical economics is closely aligned with the historical development of Classical ______.
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Humans, he claimed, were constantly propelled into motion by the need to satisfy their appetites and desires. Although Hobbes acknowledged nonmaterial desires such as the need for social recognition, he claimed that such desires were best met by the pursuit of ______.
Humans, he claimed, were constantly propelled into motion by the need to satisfy their appetites and desires. Although Hobbes acknowledged nonmaterial desires such as the need for social recognition, he claimed that such desires were best met by the pursuit of ______.
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Furthermore, since the universal pursuit of wealth would bring individuals into conflict with one another, humans must become aggressively materialistic to protect themselves from others. In the absence of morality, humans will do whatever gives them pleasure and avoid whatever causes ______.
Furthermore, since the universal pursuit of wealth would bring individuals into conflict with one another, humans must become aggressively materialistic to protect themselves from others. In the absence of morality, humans will do whatever gives them pleasure and avoid whatever causes ______.
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Hobbes concluded that in a 'state of nature' prior to government or laws, life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short' because a 'war of all against all' would result from the unrestrained pursuit of ______.
Hobbes concluded that in a 'state of nature' prior to government or laws, life would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short' because a 'war of all against all' would result from the unrestrained pursuit of ______.
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Two points about the social contract are noteworthy. First, it can include only laws that potentially could gain universal consent. Since people would presumably refuse to consent to any law that restrained or harmed them more than other individuals, the government cannot legitimately oppress any particular group or person. Second, since government is created by the people, it must serve the interests of the ______.
Two points about the social contract are noteworthy. First, it can include only laws that potentially could gain universal consent. Since people would presumably refuse to consent to any law that restrained or harmed them more than other individuals, the government cannot legitimately oppress any particular group or person. Second, since government is created by the people, it must serve the interests of the ______.
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By starting his analysis with the isolated individual in a state of nature, Hobbes portrayed society and government as secondary and artificial creations. The pursuit of private interests is presumed to be the only purpose of human existence, with politics merely a necessary activity to maintain social ______.
By starting his analysis with the isolated individual in a state of nature, Hobbes portrayed society and government as secondary and artificial creations. The pursuit of private interests is presumed to be the only purpose of human existence, with politics merely a necessary activity to maintain social ______.
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Despite Hobbes's strong commitment to individualism, he concluded that government must have absolute authority to establish and enforce ______.
Despite Hobbes's strong commitment to individualism, he concluded that government must have absolute authority to establish and enforce ______.
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So long as the monarch maintained public order, the people could not resist royal ______.
So long as the monarch maintained public order, the people could not resist royal ______.
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The title of Hobbes's major book Leviathan (1651) has become synonymous with an ______.
The title of Hobbes's major book Leviathan (1651) has become synonymous with an ______.
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Hobbes opposed the idea of 'divine right' as the source of royal ______.
Hobbes opposed the idea of 'divine right' as the source of royal ______.
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Hobbes's legacy has had a major impact on ______ Liberalism.
Hobbes's legacy has had a major impact on ______ Liberalism.
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Study Notes
Classical Liberalism
- Envisions society as an aggregation of autonomous individuals seeking to pursue their self-interests.
- Ideally, all social interaction should consist of voluntary exchanges among persons, and every individual has the right to be free from the arbitrary exercise of power.
- Focuses on individual choice as the primary determinant of social outcomes, making it ideally suited for expression in the form of game theory.
- Closely aligned with the history of neoclassical thought, starting with classical political economy.
Hobbes' Ideas
- Envisioned the world as a mechanical system operating according to natural laws.
- Claimed that in the absence of morality, humans would do whatever gives them pleasure and avoid whatever causes pain.
- Believed the pursuit of wealth would bring individuals into conflict with one another, leading to a "war of all against all".
- Reasoned that self-interested persons would voluntarily enter into a 'social contract' with others to establish a government.
- Saw the primary purpose of human existence as the pursuit of private interests, with politics merely a necessary activity to maintain social order.
Social Contract
- Can include only laws that potentially could gain universal consent.
- Means that government, created by the people, must serve the interests of the people.
Hobbes' Legacy
- Had a major impact on Classical Liberalism.
- Opposed the idea of 'divine right' as the source of royal power.
- Concluded that government must have absolute authority to establish and enforce laws.
- Believed that so long as the monarch maintained public order, the people could not resist royal authority.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the Classical Liberal perspective, which envisions society as a collection of autonomous individuals pursuing their private interests and emphasizes individual choice as the primary determinant of social outcomes.
