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Liberal Thought
by
Paul Weinstein
Dr. Lindberg
Pol-309-01
3/5/96
Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams as part of the "Founding Fathers" of America, have had, and still have, great influences on our government. The Classical Liberal view, also know as the Liberal Tradition, dates back to to Greek thought, and was used in the Roman Republic. The Liberal Tradition was brought strongly to life, by among others, Locke in is ideas of a "Social Contract" between the government and it's individuals. These ideals have influence on Franklin, Jefferson, and Adams. It therefore makes sense to compare some of the liberal thought and ideals that these man had, to understand more about them, and more about our current government that they influenced and help create.
Ben Franklin, in his Autobiography, sets up a way of living for Americans. He believes that one can reach a "Moral Perfection." By believing, and striving to find this, Franklin shows, his liberal thinking, where one needs a civil life to have a "Good Life."
"Good, moral persons" should lead a civil society. Franklin then adds a list of ideas that he believes are needed for a "good life."
This includes:
Temperance
Silence
Order
Resolution
Frugality
Industry
Sincerity
Moderation
Cleanliness
Tranquility and Humility.
His "intention being to acquire the habitue of all these virtues." He sums up all his thinking with the following:
Look round the habitable world,
how few
Know their own good, or knowing
it pursue!
The meaning is easy to see, pursue your goals if you know what is good for you, and this in turn will be good for all of us. This is truly liberal thinking of the individual and moral good. Those who do not know their own good are not moral, and should not do anything. However if you know you are good, and moral, a strong individual, you should pursue, and help out the Civil Society.
Thomas Jefferson's writing also shows a liberal thinking. Both in his writings to Adams, and in Notes on Virginia, Jefferson writes "Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God." Jefferson believing in those individual are the "focus in which he [God] keeps alive that sacred fire which otherwise might escape from the face of the earth." In Jefferson's own words he is looking for the individual to do the good. That he as the power that God gave him. Jefferson goes on explanting what he feels the role of government should be, that America should continue to produce raw materials for Europe. "Let us never wish to see our citizens occupied at a work-bench, or twirling an distaff." "It is better to carry provisions and materials to workman there [Europe]." "The lost by the transportation of commodities across the Atlantic will be made up in happiness and permanence of government."
John Adams in his Thoughts on Government shows his liberal, individual thought when he says "All speculative politicians will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man." That the happiness is what man's goal is, that a government based on this and other principles outlined in his Thoughts on Government will help this happiness become possible. He then concludes with a proposition to the individual reader "How few of the human race ever enjoyed an opportunity of making an election of government." Adams does not directly show is appreciation of the individual, but rather to the individual. He is making an argument of why the individual should get involved. Why? Because the individual matters, and has a duty to be involved. This is liberal thought to the core.
All these men, Franklin, Jefferson, and Adams show at least in part, a idea that individuals matter in this new government. As shown in the liberal tradition the individual matters. These men believe the individual matters, so these men believe in liberal thought.
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