Posted by fschmidt on
URL: https://coalpha.arkian.net/What-is-Liberalism-or-a-history-of-Western-thought-tp6188106p6770537.html

TByte wrote

I'm satisfied with Wikipedia's definition:
"Liberalism (from the Latin liberalis, "of freedom") is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights."

I'm not.  This definition is about a century out of date.  Liberalism has become a synonym for "Progressivism" which Wikipedia defines as:

"Progressivism is a political attitude favoring or advocating changes or reform through governmental action. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies."

It is true that in some other countries the word "liberal" still has some of its old meaning.  But not in America where it is identical to "progressive".  I am sympathetic to old liberalism but not to progressivism.

Obviously it's pointless to debate if one doesn't agree on the meaning of words.