The Levellers (1642-1648). for those who are swayed and follow classical liberalism, were the original classical liberals.
The bogeyman of established, tyrannical authority. Much like modern libertarians.
And like libertarians, The Levellers were largely seen as agitators (they probably had to endure their own version of "the government bestows you rights" and "if you're innocent, you have nothing to fear" we hear so often from the defenders of statism) but in a short time their influence on Western philosophy is secure in its profound impact. Look at them as The Beatles of their day. Here for a short time today, but not before leaving a legacy for tomorrow.
Their work remains unfinished.
"The Levellers were an informal alliance of agitators and pamphleteers who came together during the English Civil War (1642-1648) to demand constitutional reform and equal rights under the law. Levellers believed all men were born free and equal and possessed natural rights that resided in the individual, not the government. They believed that each man should have freedom limited only by regard for the freedom of others. They believed the law should equally protect the poor and the wealthy. The Levellers were the social libertarians of the day (or classic liberals). "Leveller" was a term of abuse, coined by their opponents to exaggerate the threat of their ideas."
More here.
I am a Leveller!
The bogeyman of established, tyrannical authority. Much like modern libertarians.
And like libertarians, The Levellers were largely seen as agitators (they probably had to endure their own version of "the government bestows you rights" and "if you're innocent, you have nothing to fear" we hear so often from the defenders of statism) but in a short time their influence on Western philosophy is secure in its profound impact. Look at them as The Beatles of their day. Here for a short time today, but not before leaving a legacy for tomorrow.
Their work remains unfinished.
"The Levellers were an informal alliance of agitators and pamphleteers who came together during the English Civil War (1642-1648) to demand constitutional reform and equal rights under the law. Levellers believed all men were born free and equal and possessed natural rights that resided in the individual, not the government. They believed that each man should have freedom limited only by regard for the freedom of others. They believed the law should equally protect the poor and the wealthy. The Levellers were the social libertarians of the day (or classic liberals). "Leveller" was a term of abuse, coined by their opponents to exaggerate the threat of their ideas."
More here.
I am a Leveller!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Mysterious and anonymous comments as well as those laced with cyanide and ad hominen attacks will be deleted. Thank you for your attention, chumps.