Notable figures of liberalism

Here’s an extremely concise timeline of liberalism, focused on key thinkers from each era.

Enlightenment thinkers and classical liberals (1650s-1800)

Key moments in this era include the English Civil War (1642-1651), parliamentary supremacy over English monarchy (1689), American independence (1776), and the French Revolution (1789-1799).

• John Milton (1608-1674): Advocated for free speech/press, and opposed tyranny.
• John Locke (1632-1704): Advocacy for natural rights, limited government, and the social contract: individual freedoms are best protected within a structured society with agreed-upon rules. Government should be accountable to a consenting public. The public has the right to overthrow government.
• Montesquieu (1689-1755): Separation of powers and checks and balances.
• Voltaire (1694-1778): Free speech, anti-feudalism, religious tolerance, anti-absolutism, pro-reason.
• David Hume (1711-1776): Empiricism and skepticism. Secularisation of thought.
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778): Individual freedom, accountable government, and democracy.
• Adam Smith (1723-1790): Concept of free-market capitalism and the “invisible hand” posits that self-interest in economic transactions leads to overall societal benefit.
• Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): Emphasis on individual autonomy and responsibility.
• Thomas Paine (1737-1809): Advocated for American independence, the French Revolution, and natural rights.
• Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797): Promotion of gender equality and women’s rights within the liberal framework hypothesises that true liberalism necessitates equal opportunities and rights for both genders.

19th-century liberalism

Key moments in this era were the Napoleonic Code (1804) and the abolition of slavery in the British Empire (1833), and the United States (1865) after the American Civil War (1861-1865).

• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832): Development of utilitarianism as an ethical theory hypothesises that the greatest overall happiness is achieved when actions maximise utility for the majority.
• John Stuart Mill (1806-1873): Championing of liberty, individuality, and the harm principle suggests that liberal societies should prioritise personal freedom as long as it does not harm others.
• Frederick Douglass (1818-1895): Fight for the abolition of slavery and equal rights within the liberal framework suggests that liberalism is inherently committed to the principles of justice and equality for all.

20th century social liberals (1950s-1970s)

Key moments include the end of racial segregation in US schools (1954), the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Stonewall Riots (1969), second-wave feminism, and post-WWII decolonisation.

• John Rawls (1921-2002): Theory of justice as fairness posits that a just society is one that individuals would choose behind a “veil of ignorance,” not knowing their own position in society, implying that fairness is a fundamental aspect of liberalism.
• Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968): Leadership in the civil rights movement, emphasizing equality and justice within a liberal framework, suggests that liberalism is a powerful tool for social change and justice.

20th-century neoliberals and libertarians (1970-2000)

Key moments include the Thatcher (1979) and Reagan (1980) elections; centre-left Hawke (1983), Clinton (1992), and Blair (1997) governments; the opening of trade with China (1980s); the establishment of the WTO (1995).

• Friedrich Hayek (1899-1992): Promotion of classical liberalism and the role of markets in organizing society posits that limited government intervention in the economy leads to greater prosperity.
• Ayn Rand (1905-1982): Known for her objectivist philosophy, Rand’s ideas on rational self-interest and limited government are influential in some strands of modern liberalism. Proponent of great man theory.
• Isaiah Berlin (1909-1997): Examined positive (freedom to live up to ones potential) and negative (freedom from interference or constraints) liberty.
• Milton Friedman (1912-2006): Advocated for free-market economics and limited government intervention hypothesizes that minimal government interference in the economy fosters economic growth and individual freedom.