Our Principles
Our Principles
Advancing the Ideas of a Free and Open Society
At IHS, we believe the principles within the classical liberal tradition serve as the foundation for the good society, where individuals and communities thrive in a context of peace, prosperity, and mutual respect. The classical liberal tradition has a rich history, drawing upon a variety of ancient, medieval, and modern thinkers. It continues to be developed by scholars today. Like all vibrant intellectual traditions, classical liberal thought includes diverse points of view about the nature of society, the individual, and the relationship between the two.
Core Classical Liberal Principles and Ideas
We believe that these ideas are particularly important for understanding and supporting the good society — a pluralistic society in which intellectual and economic progress are the norm and where individuals flourish in a context of openness, voluntary and peaceful cooperation, and mutual respect.
Each of the principles and ideas we describe below has a rich intellectual tradition of its own that continues to develop. These brief descriptions are intended to serve as a starting point — an invitation to inquiry — that we hope will lead to deeper conversations.
