Title

Liberalism

SMC Author

Barbara A. McGraw

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Status

Faculty

Department

Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society, 2nd ed.

Editor

Robert W. Kolb

Publisher/Venue

Sage Publications

Abstract

Liberalism is a philosophy, a political theory, a theory of education, an idea in economics, and a religious idea, all of which ultimately are grounded in the liberty of individuals and the free associations they create. Fundamentally, what liberalism values is the liberation of humanity from what liberalism holds are coercive elements of customs and traditions, as well as the authority of class privilege, aristocracy, and coercive ecclesiastical or political power, so that ethical, social, economic, and theological progress is possible. To serve the goal of progress in these areas, liberalism promotes political/legal systems that preserve the liberty and equal dignity of individuals while otherwise limiting governmental restraint, so that individuals and their voluntary associations are free to pursue ends that they hold will contribute...

Scholarly

yes

DOI

10.4135/9781483381503.n694

Original Citation

McGraw, Barbara. 2017. “Liberalism.” In Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society, 2nd ed. Robert W. Kolb, editor. Sage Publications. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483381503.n694

Link to Full Text
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