Meaning & use
liberal individualism
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Meaning
noununcountabletechnical
The political and moral outlook that treats each person as a free, self-governing being whose rights and choices matter more than the claims of any group.
Grammar: No plural and no article needed: liberal individualism has shaped many constitutions.
Patterns
- the tradition of liberal individualism
- a critique of liberal individualism
Many of the country's founding documents reflect liberal individualism, with their stress on personal freedom and property.
Her essay argues that liberal individualism makes it hard for neighbors to agree on shared duties.
Students compared liberal individualism with older ideas that put family or community first.
Common combinations
- defend liberal individualism
- The author sets out to defend liberal individualism against its communitarian critics.
- critique of liberal individualism
- The book offers a sharp critique of liberal individualism and its effect on public life.
- rooted in liberal individualism
- Modern consumer rights are rooted in liberal individualism.
- classical liberal individualism
- Classical liberal individualism distrusted state power over private choices.
- the ideology of liberal individualism
- The ideology of liberal individualism underlies much of the debate on privacy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- classical liberalism
- Classical liberalism is the wider political program of limited government and free markets, while liberal individualism points to the underlying view of the person.
- libertarianism
- Libertarianism is usually more extreme, pushing for a minimal state, whereas liberal individualism can accept a fairly active government that protects rights.
- individualism
- Individualism is the broader and looser word, and does not by itself imply the liberal political tradition.
Opposites
Word family
- liberal adjective
- favoring personal freedom and tolerance
- liberalism noun
- the political tradition built on liberty and rights
- individual noun
- a single person
- individualist noun
- someone who values independence from the group
- individualistic adjective
- stressing personal independence
Commonly confused: liberal individualism or liberalism?
liberal individualism vs liberalism
Liberalism names the whole political tradition; liberal individualism names one strand of it that centers on the single person.
Practice
A critic says that liberal individualism weakens community ties. What does this suggest about liberal individualism?
Choose one answer.
Liberal individualism gives priority to the free individual, which is why critics say it weakens group bonds. It is not the same as a political party label, and it does not forbid property.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “liberal individualism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.