POLS 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: E. P. Thompson
27 Mar 2012
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Liberal ideology or thought puts rational, individual property owner in the centre of the world: liberals will argue, as individuals, we all have access to reason. Through reason, we can actually understand our happiness. To be happy, means that we must fully consume nature. Need happiness to withstand the test of time, need property. Property is essential to be happy for liberals and remain happy. There is no limit to the consumption of nature. This is why we are rational property owners for liberals. Centre of the world for liberals, individuals comes first, no institution that knows more than we do what happiness is. Cannot own one without guaranteeing that these things will be protected against passions. To protect property, we need the state (a necessary evil) In theory, the state will be given minimal functions. However, despite the theoretical idea, the history of practise of liberalism will command the expansion of state function.
