Essay about Liberty, Value, and the Liberal Perspective

Liberty, Value, and the Liberal Perspective ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the nature of liberty from the point of view of value. Liberty is the highest value for liberals. The root of this liberal view is their particular conception of self. Rawls says the self is prior to the ends which are affirmed by it. This is also the Kantian view of the self: the self is prior to its socially given roles and relationships. Therefore, no end is exempt from possible revision by the self. There is nothing wrong with this basic idea. In fact, all theories agree on free choice of life plan or self-determination. But they disagree about what package of rights and resources best enables people to pursue their own conceptions of the good. However,†¦show more content†¦For instance, the value of the moral principle or rule One ought not to harm others has a value not in itself, but in leaving the values for others not harmed or reduced. Thus it serves as a constraint. The principle of equality or any principle of equitable distribution , say distribution according to contribution, is a criterion or pattern for distribution. It also dose not have a value in itself, but serves as a criterion or pattern for the distribution of income, which is the good that has a value. In living a life, or being a particular person and doing all kinds of things, a human being pursues the values of various objects, material or non-material, concrete or abstract. The pursuit of any value is under a certain circumstance with various conditions. In order to protect the agent from unjustified interference from the environment and at the same time to prevent the agents doing or being something from harming others or society, we establish not only a principle of liberty to support the agent, but also some moral principles to constrain her or him or to serve as a criterion or pattern, in the case where her or his doing or being affects the justice to other people. Thus, I call the value of those social goods that support, constrain, or serve as a criterion or pattern associative value, which is not measurable in itself, even subjectively, but has to be measured in terms of the value of the good pursued by the agent. Liberty, as aShow MoreRelatedBrooke Johnson. Political Ideologies . Essay 1. 2/24/17.1583 Words   |  7 PagesBrooke Johnson Political Ideologies Essay 1 2/24/17 Differing Perspectives of Liberalism Liberalism is characterized by a commitment to individual rights, toleration, limited government, equal opportunity, and a commitment to free market. There are different forms of liberalism that one may identify with, such as classical liberalism, neo-liberalism, egalitarianism, and libertarianism. 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