Liberalism Theory || What is Liberal Humanism Theory || Liberal humanist

What is Liberalism?

Liberalism is a literary and philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of individual rights, freedom, reason, and the inherent value of each human being. It focuses on treating each person fairly and giving them the chance to develop their talents. It's about respecting people's rights and encouraging education and self-improvement. It started a long time ago during a period called the Renaissance and became more popular during the Enlightenment. This idea says that people need to use their minds, be kind to each other, and have the freedom to learn and make choices. It has had a big impact on things like stories, how we decide what's right and wrong, and how countries are run.

Liberalism: Meaning in Literary Criticism:

Liberalism in literary criticism is an approach that focuses on the individual, emphasizing universal human experiences, values, and emotions found in literature. It believes in the power of literature to explore and reflect on human nature, morality, and the human condition. It believes that stories can teach us about how people think and feel, what's right and wrong, and what it's like to be human. This approach tries to figure out what the author meant, what the story is really about, and how readers connect with it, while also thinking about the time and culture when the story was written.

The Prominent contributor to liberal humanism:

Liberal Humanism in literary criticism isn't tied to any one person; instead, it's a shared perspective that has grown over time from the ideas of many different scholars, critics, and thinkers. As:

1--     F.R. Leavis: A British critic, Leavis championed the close reading of texts to uncover their inherent value. He focused on the emotional and intellectual responses of readers and believed in the study of great literature to enhance one's understanding of life.

2--     Cleanth Brooks: An American critic, Brooks was a key figure in the New Criticism movement. He emphasized close analysis of literary texts and believed that a poem's form and structure were crucial to its meaning.

3--    I.A. Richards: Another advocate of New Criticism, Richards focused on the reader's personal experience while engaging with a text. He introduced the concept of "practical criticism," encouraging readers to respond honestly to a poem before considering historical or biographical context.

4--    T.S. Eliot: This influential poet and critic explored the connection between tradition and individual talent. He believed that artists should respect and engage with the literary tradition while still contributing their unique perspectives.

5---        Matthew Arnold: An English poet and critic, Arnold believed in the importance of literature for personal and cultural growth. He emphasized the pursuit of moral and intellectual improvement through literature.

These figures played a significant role in shaping the principles of Liberal Humanism in literary criticism, emphasizing the importance of individual experiences, moral insights, and the exploration of human nature in literature.

Peter Barry's Ten Tenets of Liberal Humanism:

I apologize because I can't change the sense of the tenet, but first I put the tenet as it was given by "Peter Barry," and then I explained it further.

• 1. Good literature is timeless, transcendent, and speaks to what is constant in human nature.

Good literature is a special kind of story or writing that never gets old. It talks about things that will always be true about people. For example, Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare tells a love story that still makes sense and feels real to us today, even though it was written 400 years ago. This is because the feelings of love, conflict, and family are things that people will always understand, no matter where they live. So, good literature has timeless significance.

• 2. The literary text contains its own meaning (not in subordinate reference to a sociopolitical, literary-historical, or autobiographical context).

When we talk about a literary text having its own meaning, we mean that the story or writing can make sense on its own without needing to know about the author's life, the time it was written, or the society it comes from. For example "Cinderella" even if we don't know anything about the author, the time it was written, or the culture it comes from, we can still understand the story of a kind girl and her magical transformation. So, a literary text contains its own meaning.

• 3-Text is therefore studied in isolation without ideological assumptions or political conditions—the goal of close verbal analysis is to 'see the object as in itself it really is' (Matthew Arnold Pace Kant).

This means looking at a piece of writing all by itself without thinking about any political ideas or beliefs. The goal is to closely study the words and sentences to understand what the writing is saying on its own, like looking at an object without any preconceived notions. For instance, if we read a poem like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," we focus on understanding the words and their meanings without thinking about any other outside stuff. This way, we can really see what the writing is trying to tell us without any extra influences.

• 4: Human nature is unchanging; continuity is valued over innovation.

This means that people's basic behavior doesn't change, and we prefer keeping things the same instead of making them new. For example, the way we feel happy or sad hasn't really changed over time, and sometimes we like traditional things more than new ones.

• 5: Individuality as essence securely possessed by each 'transcendent subject' distinct from forces of society, experience, and language

This means that each person has their own unique self that is separate from the influence of society, their experiences, and the words they use. Think of how two people can read the same book, but their personal thoughts about it will be different because of their individuality.

• 6: The purpose of literature is to enhance life in a non-programmatic (non-propagandistic) way.

The goal of literature is to make life better without trying to force specific ideas. It's not like propaganda that pushes certain beliefs. For example, in the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee In the story, Atticus Finch teaches his children about empathy and standing up for what's right.

• 7:  Form and content fuse organically in literature.

This means that the way a story is told (its form) and what it's about (its content) fit together perfectly. For example, in the opening lines of the novel, "Tales of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, the form (the way the sentences are structured and the contrasting phrases) and the content (describing both good and bad times) are fused together.

• 8: Sincerity resides within the language of literature, as noted by the avoidance of cliché or inflated style so that the distance or difference between words and things is abolished.

"Sincerity" in literature means using honest and real language. This happens when writers avoid using overused phrases or fancy words that don't match what they're talking about. This way, the gap between words and what they mean disappears.

• 9: Showing is valued over telling—concrete enactment is better than expository explanation.

This means it's better to show something happening in a story instead of just saying it. It's like acting out a scene instead of just talking about it. For instance, instead of saying "she was sad," it's better to show her crying or looking down. This way, readers can really feel and understand what's happening without being told directly.

• 10: Criticism should interpret the text unencumbered by theorizing or preconceived ideas; it must instead trust the direct, empirical, sensory encounter of the text (Lockean legacy).

This means that when we're trying to understand a piece of writing, we shouldn't complicate it with fancy theories or our own ideas beforehand. Instead, we should trust our own senses and experiences to understand the writing directly.

I hope you have no doubt about the tenets that are actually trying to convey the message to us.

Criticism of Liberal Humanism:

Liberal humanism became the most popular theory but it was also attacked by various scholars for its limitations. They are as:

1-Aristotle: Aristotle believed that Liberal Humanism's focus on individualism could lead to selfishness and disregard for the community. He argued that people need to balance their personal desires with their responsibilities to society.

2-Sidney: Sir Philip Sidney criticized Liberal Humanism's overemphasis on reason and logic, suggesting that it ignores the emotional and imaginative aspects of human experience. He thought that art and poetry could provide a more holistic understanding of humanity.

3-P.B. Shelley:  Percy Bysshe Shelley a poet and thinker, felt that Liberal Humanism, which emphasizes individual rights and freedoms, had a problem. He believed that it encouraged people to follow the same rules and ideas that society already accepted. This made it hard for individuals to be creative and come up with new, different thoughts. He thought that Liberal Humanism stopped people from expressing themselves fully and exploring new and exciting concepts.

4-Michel Foucault: Foucault argued that Liberal Humanism believed in one standard way of being human that applied to everyone. He believed this way of thinking made it easier for powerful groups to stay powerful and made others feel less important.

These criticisms become the fundamental principles for the theory of structuralism.

Why it's called Theory before Theory?

In the Renaissance period, there was no theory for interpreting the literary text. It was the first theory that emerged and set principles for interpretation; that's why it's called theory before theory.

Conclusion:

Liberal Humanism is a belief that values individual rights, freedom, and the importance of literature. It started long ago and emphasizes timeless human experiences. In literature, it focuses on understanding stories without getting caught up in politics or personal ideas. Prominent figures like Arnold, Leavis, and Eliot shaped its principles. But there are criticisms too. Aristotle worried about selfishness; Sidney saw too much focus on reason; and Shelley believed it stifled creativity. Foucault thought it maintained power imbalances. These ideas laid the foundation for later theories like structuralism. In short, Liberal Humanism respects people, but it's not without its flaws and critiques.

 

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