Definitions for "Classical Liberalism"
A political and economic theory or philosophy that emphasizes the freedom and essential goodness of the autonomous individual and a minimal role for government in society while relying heavily on the self regulating market.
Coming from libertas, meaning "liberty" or "freedom", this concept refers to freedom from control by government, tradition, or an established church. It typically celebrates the potential of the individual and is more the antecedent of today's conservatism than of New Deal liberalism.
Political philosophy founded on the notion that individual human beings are autonomous agents with inviolable rights and that the powers of government arise from the people.