Individualism

• Individualism is one of the central principles of Liberalism. It prioritises the rights, freedoms and development of the individual above other considerations.
• It maintains that each person possess a unique set of needs, interests, and capacities which ought to be respected and nurtured to promote personal development.

Freedom and Autonomy

• Liberalism celebrates a high degree of personal freedom. Each individual should be able to live their life as they choose, provided they do not harm others.
• This covers a range of freedoms, from freedom of speech and thought, to freedom of association and movement.
• Autonomy is crucial to liberalism. Individuals must be able to govern their own lives and make their own choices.

Rationalism and Reason

• Liberalism assumes rationality as an inherent attribute of individuals. It presumes that people are capable of making logical decisions that will benefit their wellbeing.
• This operates on the presumption that individuals are best to identify what is in their own self-interest, making them well-suited to make choices about their health, education, and general welfare.
• Rationalism empowers individuals to participate actively in democratic decision-making processes.

Equality and Justice

• Liberals promote social justice and work towards a more equal distribution of wealth and resources.
• Liberalism upholds the principle of equality of opportunity. It calls for the removal of social, economic, and cultural barriers that could prevent individuals from achieving their potential.
• However, it should be highlighted, liberalism does not advocate for absolute equality as it is believed to limit the potential of high achievers.

Consent and Democracy

• Liberalism places high importance on consent. Governments must have the consent of the governed to hold legitimate power.
• It supports representative democracy where elected officials represent a group of people as it adds a layer of accountability.
• Liberal democratic governments uphold the rule of law, respect individual rights and maintain a fair justice system.

Limited Government

• Liberals believe in limited government interventions. The state should interfere as little as possible in the lives of its citizens. This fosters a sense of personal freedom and individual autonomy.
• However, it also recognises the need for interventions in some cases, such as to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable citizens, maintaining an even playing field, and in the provision of public services.
• Thus, a balance should be maintained between the necessity of state intervention and the preservation of individual liberties and freedoms.

Tolerance

• Tolerance is a crucial value within liberalism. Despite the centrality of rationality, liberals acknowledge that rational individuals can have different views, and they all should be respected.
• It promotes the co-existence of different cultures, religions, and lifestyles within the same society. Such diversity is celebrated and seen as beneficial to societal development.
• However, liberals maintain that tolerance should not be extended to intolerant attitudes that undermine the liberal values of freedom and equality.