Rescuing Freedom

The School of Liberalism has faced mounting criticism in recent years by political philosophers arguing it has created a highly unequal and unjust set of societies. Critiques such as those by Thomas Piketty have fuelled those who argue that liberalism has failed to bring about freedom for the poorest in society and created unjustifiably large economic inequalities within societies. They point to democratic socialism or Rawlsian property-owning democracy frameworks as the best ways to deliver a society which is both free and socially just. I argue that there is another option which blends a form of classical liberalism and a genuine care for delivering social justice which meets the challenges many levy against Liberals and capitalists. I start by analysing G.A. Cohen’s critique of Liberalism’s ability to deliver freedom which is often overlooked in modern discourse on this topic. This argues that poverty is an unnecessary but sufficient condition to a Liberal conception of unfreedom. I then join the many in critiquing welfare state capitalism, which is the product of modern liberal philosophy. I then take a reviewed look at the scholarship of Milton Friedman, and argue that his work on freedom as choice, when combined with the work of John Tomasi on self-authorship, provides a potentially powerful avenue for Liberals looking to overcome the modern critiques of welfare-state capitalism while providing for freedom for all and creating a just society.