What are the underpinning principles of liberalism and how does it view the world at large?

 

Liberalism is like other ideologies and philosophical schools, it has its own principles and it grew of some historical context with certain principles such as respecting people's freedom, individualism, liberty and moral equality.

The principles of liberalism all relate to its definition as liberalism relates to liberty of individuals and this is applies to all people and makes liberalism principles universal. Liberalism is based on the principle that persons should all be treated equally according to their humanity virtue, they need to have moral equity and respect whatever cultural background they belong to. Liberalism is based on the principle that diversity among people is tolerated and that people have freedom of reason. Individualism is one of the most important principles of liberalism and it takes the human being as an individual who represents the main unit of ethics and politics. Yet individualism is not the same as atomism as a liberal realizes the importance of individualism and the need for human connection and communication, liberals respect one's own relationships and features of culture such as language, color, religion, customs or traditions. Liberalism is based on the principle that people are free to have their own immense values such as faith, ethnic group, community, family and others.

Liberty is another principle that liberalism is based on and it starts by focusing on the individual liberty intrinsic value and that people are totally free in their actions, no one should interfere in it and this applies to all acts people make such as what they eat, drink, wear or belief and that they don't have to explain reasons for what they do. It also applies to people's goals and aims on both short and long terms. To a liberal person, an individual doesn't have to explain his own choices and reasons for these choices. Liberty has assumptions that also apply to the people a person chooses to communicate with and interact with and the projects people have to apply. Liberalism supposes that a person's understanding of God is his own choice and the choice of religion too and this also applies to his sexual or political beliefs. Being liberal means to respect the law too and liberalism doesn't mean to breach laws or not to follow public rules when someone is doing a project or making a business. Another principle of liberalism is respecting the property of others, intellectual property, respecting contracts, common laws and other rules set by communities such as caring for handicapped as an example.  

Universalism is another principle of liberalism as liberalism doesn't regard issues such as sex, sexuality, race, place, religion, class, wealth and other characteristics of individuals. Freedom of individuals includes the virtue of their humanity and having the right to live in a society where everyone is accepted and respected in moral ways. Issues such as racism and ethnicity are not accepted in liberal societies as people are not obliged to explain their parents' identities or religious attitudes. Liberalism means that there is no need for copying any single liberal constitution and then to paste it on another society as there should be interest in the historical and social context of such a society.

In conclusion, Liberalism can't be applied completely in any society in fact as it is a developing work that is liable to progress and it has weaknesses and strengths as liberal principles can't be described how to be applied by any one or any country as cultural backgrounds may decide how liberalism is applied in certain societies.