Absolutism And Conservatism

Of all the rulers in Europe that successfully used absolutism to create one of the strongest monarchy would be Louis XIV also known as "The Sun King" of France. He controlled France’s money and had various ways to get it, as well as keep his power, and he also knew how to delegate jobs to intelligent and loyal people. One of the ruler that was not successful in creating a strong and united monarchy using absolutism was the father and son of the Stuart dynasty who was James I and Charles I. These two never got along with the english parliament and always did things to upset their citizens and so they never were really popular nor respected amongst their people. The reason why absolute monarchy floundered in England but flourished in France was due mainly to the capability of ruler, the present political situations, and the economic stability of each country when the idea of absolute rule was introduced.

People’s views on a wide range of issues are influenced or determined by the kind of foundational belief systems they hold. Therefore, the difference in the nature of opinions among individuals or groups of people alludes to the existence of distinct belief systems. In the course of history, the distinction between Liberalism and Conservatism has become more vivid particularly in the political arena where various players have expressed opposing points of view regarding the nation’s future. It is indeed undisputable that the foundational beliefs of Liberalism are diametrically opposed to those of Conservatism. This essay will give a definition of each term and describe how the two oppose each other.

Liberalism, in general, was an ideological movement that emerged out of the ideas of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century. It embraced the ideas of individualism which were established in the Renaissance and Reformation era. The Renaissance period sparked a belief in the importance of the individual in society. It helped promote the beliefs of classical liberalism which gradually formed into the liberal ideology of the 19th century. Individuals that were waiting to get their individual rights and freedoms were allowed to finally gain liberty and power through this period of time. Classical liberalism developed

Liberalism started with the ideas of the Enlightenment. Two of these ideas were freedom of speech and freedom of the individual, and kept growing from there. Liberalism is the belief in a small central government and no monarchy. The liberalists defended the ideas of the definitive rights of an individual’s liberty, equality and property. The liberalists wanted their government to be established on written laws and a constitution based on equality.

Conservatism, traditional or new, was one of the most powerful ideologies in Europe. Otto von Bismarck practiced a new form of conservatism because he advocated for lower class, religious freedoms, and socialized the education system. This new form of conservatism received backlash by most other political groups.

Typically Liberalism can be categorized into two different strands, Classical and Modern (yet some thinkers advocate a third strand that is referred to as Neo-Liberalism), each characterized by their differing and to some extent unavoidably overlapping attitudes regarding the theory behind the ideology and how it should be put into practice. Prior to examining how these relate to one another and before making any comparisons, it is important to give a definition, as best as possible, of Liberalism as a concept.

The New Right has significantly revised the relationship between conservatism and tradition, however. The New Right attempts to fuse economic libertarianism with state and social authoritarianism. As such, it is a blend of radical, reactionary and traditional features. Its radicalism is evident in its robust efforts to dismantle or ‘roll back’ interventionist government and liberal social values. This radicalism is clearest in relation to the liberal New Right, which draws on rational theories and abstract principles, and so dismisses tradition. New Right radicalism is nevertheless reactionary in that both the liberal and conservative New Right hark back to a 19th century ‘golden age’ of supposed economic prosperity and moral fortitude. However, the conservative New Right also makes an appeal to tradition, particularly through its emphasis on so-called ‘traditional values’.

Liberalism is a collection of political, social and economic philosophies that is centered around the rights of personal liberties, civil rights, economic freedom, controlled and democratic government and the rule of law. A controlled and democratic government is instrumental to liberalism. A controlled government is one restricted by the law. The most common example of this can be found in the United States Constitution. The Constitution has outlined the roles and restrictions of each branch of government while also setting a system of checks and balances.

In his work On Liberty, Mill placed much emphasis on individual liberty and its vital role in political society. To Mill, this phrase may be defined as the liberty of the individual to be the final judge over his actions; to decide what is right and wrong and to act upon that standard. On a secondary level, it also implies one's freedom to pursue one's own individuality. Mill believed in a society in which each individual leads his own distinctive life according to his own unique talents; unfettered by regulations upon thought, opinion, actions etc.

In the world of politics, there are many people who tend to view the world through a lense that justifies as to how they view the world around them. Specifically in the US today, there are individuals who are either conservative, or are liberals. While comparing conservatism and liberalism, they are extremely different in terms of definition. Conservatism is defined as an individual who, “believes in the value of established and traditional practices in politics and society”(Merriam Webster). In a broad perspective, conservatism is traditionally interpreted when a person is unwilling to accept change. In contrast, liberalism is defined, “ [as a] belief in the value of social and political change in order to achieve progress” (Merriam Webster).

Liberalism and conservatism have been political ideas and thoughts from the very birth of our democracy. Their views and points of the government's role in a democratic society have changed over the years, but the basic ideas and principles have remained the same. There are many different degrees of liberalism and conservatism as almost anyone can be labeled. Some individuals are radical and extreme while others stand on more of a neutral territory, but the debates between the understood ideas of each group have continued throughout the history of the United States. We will take liberalism's Gary Doore and conservatism's Irving Kristol as modern day examples and compare and contrast the

The liberals wanted the kings to share power with the legislature. Liberals didn’t want the monarchies to run Europe. They believed in freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and freedom of religion. The liberals thought that the males that owned property or males that were wealthy had the right to vote. The liberal class consisted of politicians, writers, bankers, business owners, and newspaper editors. The liberals were inspired to honor this kind of government through the French Revolution.

Liberalism was constant in the transition from the Enlightenment to the Romanticism period. Known as ideas of liberty and equality founded from worldview, liberalism benefits the general well being of society (“Liberalism”). Economic and political liberalism both explain that society should be free from restraint. For instance, economic liberalism claims the government should only have three main functions: defend the country, police should protect individuals, and be responsible for the construction of public works that are too expensive and hard for an individual to undergo. Additionally, political liberalism was the basic rights for individuals, such as freedom of speech and press (Spielvogel, 634-635).

Mill wastes no time in articulating the central thesis of On Liberty; he states, "Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign" (69). Mill, then, does not make the individual more important than society, but he separates the individual from society and articulates a realm of existence in which society, or the community, should have no power over the individual. Mill states, "The sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number is self-protection…His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant" (68). Society, therefore, has no right to intervene in the private life of any person, unless they act in such a way that prevents others from enjoying their own rights.

The three major ideologies that have dominated Western thought since the Enlightenment are conservatism, classical liberalism, and socialism. In conservatism the individual are considered not consistently rational and individuals are inherently unequal in intelligence, skills, and status. In classical liberalism the individual enjoys rights to life, liberty, and property and is able to use reason to determine the laws of nature. In socialism individuals are social and caring by nature. As for society conservatism believes individuals belong to different groups and that there is harmony when these groups are willing and able to work together, classical liberalism believes no one should be forced to accept the authority of the state, they may