Why I am a liberal reading

Liberals

Believe in freedom, human rights, pluralism, security, the rule of law, and democracy, including deliberative democracy.

Liberalism

Consists of commitments in political theory and philosophy, not limited to left or right political ideologies.

Abraham Lincoln

Considered a liberal for his views on self-government and consent.

Personal Agency

Liberals value personal agency and individual dignity, rejecting despotism.

Tribalism

Liberals oppose tribalism and emphasize focusing on issues rather than identities.

Rule of Law

Central to liberalism, requiring clear, general rules, due process, and consistency.

Freedom from Fear

Liberals aim to restrict public and private violence.

Antiliberals

Reject liberal commitments to freedom, human rights, the rule of law, pluralism, security, and democracy.

Liberal Authoritarianism

Liberals oppose illiberal democracy and illiberal populism.

Freedom of Speech

Essential for self-government, including political speech and artistic expression.

Censorship

Liberals oppose censorship to uphold free and fair elections, freedom of conscience, and diversity of thought.

Freedom of Religion

Liberals support the freedom to worship or not, advocating for the separation of church and state.

Religious Orthodoxy

Liberals challenge official religious orthodoxy.

Individual Dignity

Liberals emphasize treating individuals with respect and as ends in themselves.

Free Markets

Liberals value free markets but oppose monopolies that compromise freedom and economic growth.

Private Property

Liberals support the right to private property and may endorse progressive taxation and redistribution.

Administrative State

Liberals have diverse views on the contemporary administrative state.

Conflict Resolution

Liberals reject the idea of life as a conflict between friends and enemies.

Overlapping Consensus

Liberals support accommodating diverse views through political liberalism.

Mischaracterization

Liberals criticize mischaracterizations of liberalism by antiliberals and postliberals.

Liberal Diversity

Liberalism encompasses diverse thinkers with varying perspectives.

Divergent Views

Liberals hold differing views on negative and positive liberty and centralized planning.

Illiberal Left

Liberals consider those on the left illiberal if they oppose freedom of speech and diversity of viewpoints.

Civil Society

Liberals advocate for a robust civil society and social norms, including tolerance for diverse views.

Neoliberalism

Liberals may question the concept of neoliberalism and its association with deregulation and free markets.

Neoliberalism

A political ideology that emphasizes economic liberalism, free markets, limited government intervention, and individual freedoms.

Redistribution

The act of distributing wealth, resources, or opportunities from those who have more to those who have less, often to reduce economic inequality.

Political equality

The principle that all citizens should have equal political rights and opportunities to participate in the political process.

Traditions

Inherited ideals, norms, and concepts that are defended by liberals, such as republican self-government, freedom of speech, and equal protection.

Liberty vs

The distinction made by liberals between freedom with justified constraints (liberty) and unrestricted freedom that may harm others (license).

Reason-giving

The practice of providing justifications and reasons for decisions and actions in the public domain, seen as a check against authoritarianism and arbitrary exercise of power.