LIBERALISM

Homer C Casauay

LIBERALISM
Is the belief in the value of the individual human personality, and a profound conviction that all human progress has been due to the free exercise of human powers.

History
Liberalism as a political movement spans the better part of the last four centuries, though the use of the word liberalism to refer to a specific political doctrine did not occur until the 19th century. First modern state founded on liberal principles USA, Declaration of Independence. "all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," echoing John Locke's phrase "life, liberty, and property".

 A few years later, the French Revolution overthrew the hereditary aristocracy, with the slogan "liberty, equality, fraternity", and was the first state in history to grant universal male suffrage. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, first codified in 1789 in France, is a foundational document of both liberalism and human rights. While liberal ideas were advocated by many early thinkers, including Marcus Aurelius, Cardinal Cajetan, and the School of Salamanca, most historians trace the beginnings of liberal political government to a reaction to the religious wars gripping Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, especially in France . Liberalism fully exploded as a comprehensive movement against the old order during the French Revolution, which set the pace for the future development of human history.

 Classical liberals - importance of free markets and civil liberties, dominated liberal history in the 19th century. The onset of the First World War and the Great Depression, however, accelerated the trends begun in late 19th century Europe toward social liberalism that emphasized a greater role for the state in ameliorating devastating social conditions. By the beginning of the 21st century, liberal democracies support for constitutions, free and fair elections and pluralistic societyhad prevailed in most regions around the world.

What liberals believe?

freedom is impossible without equality

Other concepts important to some liberals

Free markets Peace

LIBERALISM
NEGATIVE or Classical State of being free from constraint. It focuses setting limit to government influence and intervention. Bill of rights

LIBERALISM
POSITIVE or positive freedom Not enough for the government to leave the people to themselves. Active promotion of the right to adequate housing and education, decent standard of living, clean and green surroundings, corruption-free election, honest government

Chua-Qua v. Clave
The respondent in this case was the Tay Tung high school in Bacolod City where petitioner Evelyn Chua taught for a number of years since 1963. In 1976 when the case began, petitioner was the class adviser in grade six where Bobby Qua was enrolled and since he apparently needed remedial instructions, he was given such instructions by petitioner after their classroom sessions. In the course of their sessions the couple fell in love and got married on December 24, 1975 in a civil ceremony. Evelyn was then 30 years old while Bobby was 16 years old, 14 years her junior. The marriage was valid considering that the law applicable at that time, the Civil Code of the Philippines, allows males to marry by age 16 provided parental consent.

 On February 4, 1975 Respondent High School filed an application for clearance to terminate the employment of petitioner before the Department of Labor in Bacolod City for abusive and unethical conduct unbecoming of a dignified school teacher and that her continued employment is inimical to the best interest, and would downgrade the high morals of the school.

ISSUE
WON dismissal or termination of petitioners employment based on her marriage with his pupil is illegal

HELD:
Supreme Court declared Evelyn Chuas dismissal illegal stating: If the two eventually fell in love, despite the disparity in their ages and academic levels, this only lends substance to the truism that the heart has reasons of its own which reason doesnt know. But, definitely, yielding to this gentle and universal emotion is not to be so casually equated with immorality. The deviation of the circumstances of their marriage from the usual societal pattern cannot be considered as a defiance of contemporary and social mores.

 Justice Regalado quoted Blaise Pascal, the French Mathematician and philosopher (16231662) who said the heart has its reason of its own which reason doesnt know.
This demonstrates once and for all the intimate link between philosophy and law. Likewise, the Supreme Court applied liberal principles in matters of the heart and feelings, and refused to be dissuaded by contrary opinion. In fact the Supreme Court, in this case, paid tribute to the gentle yet universal power of love. The High Court did not consider it immoral for teacher to fall in love with a much younger student, even though to other people such conduct was adjudged abusive and unethical.