Contributions to liberal theory

This is an (partial) overview of individuals that contributed to the development of liberal theory on a worldwide scale and therefore are strongly associated with the liberal tradition and instrumental in the exposition of political liberalism as a philosophy. The contributors are listed in approximately chronological order, beginning from the roots of realism, rationalism and humanism in the Renaissance, all movements which were influential in the creation of what is thought of as liberal political theory. These include Desiderius Erasmus, Hugo Grotius and Baruch Spinoza through the Age of Reason's English philosopher John Locke and the Frenchman Voltaire and other philosophers of The Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy. It included the ideas of self-determination, the primacy of the individual and the nation, as opposed to the family and the state, as being the fundamental units of law, politics and economy.

From Locke to Mill

John Locke

The notions of John Locke (United Kingdom, 1632-1704) of a "government with the consent of the governed" and man's natural rights—life, liberty, and estate (property) as well on tolerance, as laid down in A letter concerning toleration and Two treatises of government —had an enormous influence on the development of liberalism. Developed a theory of property resting on the actions of individuals, rather than on descent or nobility.

Related Topics:
John Locke - Government - Natural rights - Life - Liberty - Estate - Property - Tolerance - Liberalism

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One could argue that liberal theory starts with Locke, influenced by the proto-liberal contributions listed above.

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• Some literature:
• A Letter Concerning Toleration, 1689 http://www.constitution.org/jl/tolerati.htm
• The Second Treatise of Civil Government, 1689 http://www.gutenberg.net/etext/7370

John Trenchard

John Trenchard (United Kingdom, 1662-1723) was co-author, with Thomas Gordon of Cato's Letters

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• Some literature:
• Cato's Letters / John Trenchard & Thomas Gordon, 1720-1723

Charles de Montesquieu

Charles de Montesquieu (France, 1689-1755)

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• Some literature:
• De l'esprit des lois,1748 (The Spirit of the Laws) http://www.constitution.org/cm/sol.htm)
• Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (together with others), 1751-1772 {Encyclopaedia, or Reasoned Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Trades http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/)

Thomas Gordon

Thomas Gordon (United Kingdom, 169?-1750) was co-author, with John Trenchard of Cato's Letters

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• Some literature:
• Cato's Letters / John Trenchard & Thomas Gordon, 1720-1723

François Quesnay

François Quesnay (France, 1694-1774)

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• Some literature:
• Tableau économique, 1758
• Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (together with others), 1751-1772 {Encyclopaedia, or Reasoned Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Trades http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/)

Voltaire

Voltaire (France, 1694-1778)

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• Some literature:
• Lettres Philosophiques sur les Anglais, 1734 (Philosophical Letters on the English)
• Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (together with others), 1751-1772 {Encyclopaedia, or Reasoned Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Trades http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/)
• Essai sur l'histoire génerale et sur les moeurs et l'espirit des nations, 1756 (Essay on the Manner and Spirit of Nations and on the Principal Occurrences in History)
• Traité sur la Tolérance à l'occasion de la mort de Jean Calas, 1763 (Treatise on Toleration In Connection with the Death of Jean Calas)
• Dictionnaire Philosophique, 1764 (Philosophical Dictionary)

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (United States, 1706-1790) was an inventor, scientist, writer, entrepreneur, diplomat and statesman was an advocate for free trade and the end of mercantilism, industrialization, abolition of slavery, free public libraries, democratic government and national unity. His Autobiography is also a seminal work on the life of a free individual who is self-governing in his pursuit of accomplishment, without need for an over-arching state, allegiance or religion to force adherence to basic moral and ethical principles.

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• Some literature:
• "Progress of true science," a letter to Joseph Priestley, 1780, perhaps Franklin's most radical (but brief) work, emphasizing radical ideas that are centuries ahead of his time related to natural scientific inquiry, morality and humanity.

David Hume

David Hume (United Kingdom, 1711-1776)

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• Some literature:
• An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, 1751

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (France, 1712-1778) promulgated the idea that men were naturally free, but had to be educated to live in society, but that this did not represent an argument for absolutism, but instead for a natural liberty and a "national will" which could be directed to improvement of the society. He is famous for the quote "men are born free, but are everywhere in chains", and urging that Europeans throw off the restrictions that they lived under, and substitute, instead, a self-governing moral basis.

Related Topics:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Absolutism

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• Some literature:
• Du Contrat Social, 1762 (The Social Contract http://www.constitution.org/jjr/socon.htm)

Denis Diderot

Denis Diderot (France, 1713-1784)

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• Some literature:
• Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (together with others), 1751-1772 {Encyclopaedia, or Reasoned Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Trades http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/)

Jean le Rond d'Alembert

Jean le Rond d'Alembert (France, 1717-1783)

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• Some literature:
• Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers (together with others), 1751-1772 {Encyclopaedia, or Reasoned Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Trades http://www.hti.umich.edu/d/did/)

Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams (United States, 1722-1803)

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Richard Price

Richard Price (United Kingdom, 1723-1791)

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• Some literature:
• Appeal to the Public on the Subject of the National Debt, 1771
• Observations on Reversionary Payments, 1771
• Observations on Civil Liberty and the Justice and Policy of the War with America, 1776

Anders Chydenius

Anders Chydenius (Finland, 1729-1803)

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• Some literature:
• Americanska Näfwerbåtar, 1753 (American birchbark canoes)
• Källan Til Rikets Wan-Magt, 1765 (The cause of the weakness of the Kingdom)
• Den Nationnale Winsten, 1765 (The National Gain) http://www.chydenius.net/historia/teokset/e_kansallinen_johdanto.asp)

Adam Smith

Adam Smith (United Kingdom, 1723-1790)

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• Some literature:
• An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 1776 http://www.mondopolitico.com/library/wealthofnations/toc.htm
• The Theory of Moral Sentiments, 1759

William Blackstone

Sir William Blackstone (United Kingdom 1723-1780)

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• Some literature:
• Commentaries on the Laws of England

Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant (Germany, 1724-1804)

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• Some literature:
• Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, 1785 (Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Moralshttp://eserver.org/philosophy/kant/metaphys-of-morals.txt)
• Kritik der praktischen Vernunft, 1788 (Critique of Practical Reason http://eserver.org/philosophy/kant/critique-of-practical-reaso.txt)
• Über den Gemeinspruch: Das mag in der Theorie richtig sein, taugt aber nicht für die Praxis, 1793 (On the common saying: this may be true in theory but it does not apply in practice)
• Zum ewigen Frieden, 1795 (Perpetual Peacehttp://www.sgipt.org/politpsy/vorbild/kant_zef.htm)
• Metaphysik der Sitten, 1797 (Metaphysics of Morals http://eserver.org/philosophy/kant/intro-to-metaphys-of-morals.txt)

Anne Robert Jacques Turgot

Anne Robert Jacques Turgot (France, 1727-1781)

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• Some literature:
• Le Conciliateur, 1754
• Lettre sur la tolérance civile, 1754
• Réflexions sur la formation et la distribution des richesses, 1766
• Lettres sur la liberté du commerce des grains, 1770

Edmund Burke

Edmund Burke (United Kingdom 1729-1797, politician) contributed to liberal theory by emphasizing the importance of rationality in politics, self-interest as the basis for government and moderation against extremes. Also considered important by Conservatism for his belief in the respect for tradition.

Related Topics:
Edmund Burke - Conservatism

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• Some literature:
• Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents 1770
• On American Taxation 1774
• On Conciliation with the Colonies 1775
• Speech to the Electors of Bristol 1774
• Reflections on the Revolution in France 1790

Joseph Priestley

Joseph Priestley (United Kingdom/United States, 1733-1804)

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• Some literature:
• Essay on the First Principles of Government, 1768
• The Present State of Liberty in Great Britain and her Colonies, 1769
• Remarks on Dr Blackstone's Commentaries, 1769
• Observations on Civil Liberty and the Nature and Justice of the War with America, 1772

August Ludwig von Schlözer

August Ludwig von Schlözer (Germany, 1735-1809)

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Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry (United States, 1736-1799)

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• Some literature:
• Liberty or Death, 1775 http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/henry.html

Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine (United Kingdom/United States, 1737-1809)

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• Some literature:
• Rights of Man, 1791 http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/lookup?num=3742

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (United States, 1743-1826) was the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. He also wrote Notes on the State of Virginia.

Related Topics:
Thomas Jefferson - President - United States - Declaration of Independence - Notes on the State of Virginia

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Marquis de Condorcet

Marquis de Condorcet (France, 1743-1794)

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• Some literature:
• Esquisse d'un tableau historique des progrés de l'esprit humain, 1795 (Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind)

Jeremy Bentham

Jeremy Bentham (United Kingdom, 1748-1832)

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Emmanuel Sieyès

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès (France, 1748-1836)

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James Madison

James Madison (United States, 1751-1836) was co-Author, with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay of The Federalist Papers, and one of the architects of both the American Constitution of 1787, as well as the Bill of Rights (1789). Later President of the United States (1809-1817).

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• Some literature:
• Federalist Papers / Alexander Hamilton, John Jay & James Madison, 1787 http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed.htm

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton (United States, 1755-1804)

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• Some literature:
• Federalist Papers / Alexander Hamilton, John Jay & James Madison, 1787 http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed.htm

Anne Louise Germaine de Staël

Anne Louise Germaine de Staël (France, 1766-1817)

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• Some literature:
• De l?influence des passions sur le bonheur des individus et des nations, 1796
• Des circonstances actuelles qui peuvent terminer la Révolution et des principes qui doivent fonder la république en France, 1798
• Considérations sur les principaux événements de la révolution française, 1813
• Appel aux souverains réunis à Paris pour en obtenir l?abolition de la traite des nègres, 1814

Benjamin Constant

Benjamin Constant (France, 1767-1830)

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• Some literature:
• De l'esprit de conquête et l'usurpation (On the spirit of conquest and on usurpation), 1814
• "The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns," 1816 http://tinyurl.com/avqep

Jean-Baptiste Say

Jean-Baptiste Say (France, 1767-1832)

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• Some literature:
• Traité d'économie politique (Treatise on Political Economy), 1803

Wilhelm von Humboldt

Wilhelm von Humboldt (Germany, 1767-1835)

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• Some literature:
• Ideen zu einem Versuch, die Grenzen der Wirksamkeit des Staats zu bestimmen (On the Limits of State Action), 1792

David Ricardo

David Ricardo (United Kingdom, 1772-1823)

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James Mill

James Mill (United Kingdom, 1773-1836)

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• Some literature:
• Elements of Political Economy, 1821

Friedrich List

Friedrich List (Germany, 1789-1846)

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• Some literature:
• Das Nationale System der Politischen Okonomie, 1841

Johan Rudolf Thorbecke

The Dutch statesman Johan Rudolf Thorbecke (Netherlands, 1798-1872) was the main theorist of Dutch liberalism in the nineteenth century, outlining a more or less democratic alternative to the absolute monarchy. His main theoretical work was Over het hedendaagsche staatsburgerschap (1844). He became prime minister in 1848, thus starting numerous reforms in Dutch politics.

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Frédéric Bastiat

Frédéric Bastiat (France, 1801-1850)

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• Some literature:
• La Loi (The Law), 1850
• Harmonies économiques (Economic Harmonies), 1850
• Ce qu'on voit et ce qu'on ne voit pas (What is Seen and What is Not Seen), 1850

Harriet Martineau

Harriet Martineau (United Kingdom, 1802-1876)

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• Some literature:
• Illustrations of Political Economy, 1832-1834
• Theory and Practice of Society in America, 1837
• The Martyr Age of the United States, 1839

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson (United States, 1803-1882) was an American philosopher who argued that the basic principles of government were mutable, and that government is required only in so far as people are not self-governing. Proponent of Democracy, and of the idea that a democratic people must have a democratic ethics.

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• Some literature:
• Self-Reliance
• Circles
• Politics
• The Nominalist and the Realist

Alexis de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville (France, 1805-1859)

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• Some literature:
• De La Démocratie en Amérique, 1831-1840 (Democracy in America, http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/home.html)
• L'Ancien Régime et la Révolution, 1856

William Lloyd Garrison

William Lloyd Garrison (United States, 1805-1879)

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• Some literature:
• Articles advocating abolition of slavery in the newspaperThe Liberator, 1831-1866