Single Idea 22862

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics]

Full Idea

Liberals take people as they are, and relates their interests to what they actually want or prefer.

Gist of Idea

Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be their interests

Source

Steven Lukes (Power: a Radical View (2nd ed) [2005], 1.6)

Book Reference

Lukes,Steven: 'Power: a radical view' [Macmillan 2005], p.37


A Reaction

He contrasts this with 'reformists' and 'radicals'. I don't see why liberals should be so uncritical of people's desires. Liberals aren't going to implement harmful policies, simply because people want them. He treats liberals as one-dimensional.

Related Idea

Idea 22855 One-dimensionsal power is behaviour in observable conflicts of interests [Lukes]