Abstract
In order to examine the relationship between social welfare and liberalism, we have to ask how liberalism can be found in social welfare. Based on I. Berlin's classification in "Two Concepts of Liberty" (1958), this paper offers three viewpoints of liberalism and makes a comparative study of each looking at the 'essence of liberty', 'ways to maintain liberty' and 'human suppositions of liberty'. It then goes on to discuss how each of these viewpoints relates to social welfare. Firstly, J. S. Mill's belief is explored ; that of negative freedom (freedom from) as the essence of liberty. This is followed by L. T. Hobhouse who recognizes the significance of positive freedom (freedom to) and finally A. Sen who regards both types of freedom as important. In Mill's and Hobhouse's concepts of liberalism, liberalism and social welfare can only be considered to have a mutually exclusive relationship. This is because, within these two concepts of liberalism, liberty is maintained by the establishment of an untouchable 'freedom sanctuary' that will not allow national intervention nor intervention from other power organizations, including social welfare agencies. However for social welfare, what is of great importance is to ensure the freedom of those people who have been left on the outside of the practical applications of Mill's and Hobhouse's liberalism. On this point, the author believes that Sen's proposition on 'well-being freedom' in relation to 'capability', while it carries many unsolved issues, illuminates fundamental ways by which to harmonize social welfare and liberalism.
