
The Myth of Classical Liberalism
Description
Alles über E-Books | Antworten auf Fragen rund um E-Books, Kopierschutz und Dateiformate finden Sie in unserem Info- & Hilfebereich.
This short, engaging book challenges the widely held belief that 'classical liberalism' is the original and authentic form of liberalism. The book argues that this narrative - often used to position libertarianism as the true liberal tradition and social democratic liberalism as a distortion - is built on historical misunderstandings of the terms 'liberal' and 'liberalism'.
Focusing on English and American contexts, the book uses primary sources to show that the free-market doctrines of Adam Smith, later interpreted by thinkers like Hayek and Friedman as libertarian principles, should not be conflated with liberalism. Instead, liberalism first emerged in nineteenth-century England as a political philosophy rooted in constitutionalism and republicanism. The book also examines how Franklin D. Roosevelt reshaped American political language by associating "liberals" with New Deal supporters and "conservatives" with its opponents. By exploring these two pivotal moments and the broader political and economic history that connects them, de Marneffe redefines classical liberalism and critiques rigid interpretations of liberal thought. This book will appeal to scholars of politics, philosophy, economics, and the history of ideas.
More details
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Peter de Marneffe is Professor of Philosophy at Arizona State University. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and specializes in political and legal philosophy. His work explores liberalism, neutrality, self-sovereignty, and public policy. He is the author of Liberalism and Prostitution and The Legalization of Drugs (For and Against), and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes. His interdisciplinary approach bridges ethical theory and applied legal questions, offering insight into individual rights and the role of the state.
Content
Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Origins.- Chapter 3: "Liberalism".- Chapter 4: Hayek's History.- Chapter 5: "Liberals" in America.- Chapter 6: "Classical Liberalism".- Chapter 7: Conclusion.
System requirements
File format: PDF
Copy protection: Watermark-DRM (Digital Rights Management)
System requirements:
- Computer (Windows; MacOS X; Linux): Use the free software Adobe Reader, Adobe Digital Editions, or any other PDF viewer of your choice (see eBook Help).
- Tablet/Smartphone (Android; iOS): Install the free app Adobe Digital Editions or another reading app for eBooks, e.g., PocketBook (see eBook Help).
- E-reader: Bookeen, Kobo, Pocketbook, Sony, Tolino and many more (only limited: Kindle).
The file format PDF always displays a book page identically on any hardware. This makes PDF suitable for complex layouts such as those used in textbooks and reference books (images, tables, columns, footnotes). Unfortunately, on the small screens of e-readers or smartphones, PDFs are rather annoying, requiring too much scrolling.
This eBook uses Watermark-DRM, a „soft” copy protection. This means that there are no technical restrictions to prevent illegal distribution. However, there is a personalised watermark embedded in the eBook that can be used to identify the purchaser of the eBook in the event of misuse and to provide evidence for legal purposes.
For more information, see our eBook Help page.