FREEDOM AND EQUALITY: CLASSICAL LIBERALISM VS. FACISM AND NATIONAL SOCIALISM
The concept of both freedom and equality play equally large roles in the ideologies of Classical Liberalism along with Fascism and National Socialism. Although freedom and equality play such large roles in these ideologies, they also play very different roles in each ideology. Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint 1. Equality, on the other hand is simply defined as the state of being equal 2. Classical Liberalism is based off the ideologies of John Locke, Adam Smith, and Immanuel Kant. These three figures helped develop the ideology of Classical Liberalism and ensured that freedom and equality would play a major positive role in the ideology. On the contrary, Fascism and National Socialism is the complete opposite of Classical Liberalism. Developed predominantly by Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, the ideology of Fascism and National Socialism is completely against the concept of freedom and equality.
The ideology of Classical Liberalism is extremely opposed to political totalitarianism. Classical Liberalism is firmly against having rulers/leaders who determine the rights and freedoms of their populations. The main objective of the ideology is to avoid the excesses of state of nature. John Locke once stated that “the unconstrained power of one in command of 100,000 is worse than arbitrary power of 100,000 individual single men.” 3 Locke firmly believed in this because he thought that one man who is in power of many other men could cause much more damage than that of a large group of individuals with equal power. A huge concern for Locke was determining a set of principles and rules in which political institutions must follow in order to benefit the majority of individuals.4 One of Locke’s more interesting ideologies is that of the state of nature. Locke believes that people are born as equals with the capacity to reason and generate ideas.5 It essentially
The ideology of Classical Liberalism is extremely opposed to political totalitarianism. Classical Liberalism is firmly against having rulers/leaders who determine the rights and freedoms of their populations. The main objective of the ideology is to avoid the excesses of state of nature. John Locke once stated that “the unconstrained power of one in command of 100,000 is worse than arbitrary power of 100,000 individual single men.” 3 Locke firmly believed in this because he thought that one man who is in power of many other men could cause much more damage than that of a large group of individuals with equal power. A huge concern for Locke was determining a set of principles and rules in which political institutions must follow in order to benefit the majority of individuals.4 One of Locke’s more interesting ideologies is that of the state of nature. Locke believes that people are born as equals with the capacity to reason and generate ideas.5 It essentially
Bibliography: 1) freedom: definition of freedom in Oxford dictionary (British & World English)."Oxford Dictionaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2013.