Green was a British intellectual who contributed greatly to the fields of philosophy and politics, in doing so his work was effectively applied to practical politics.

Green believed the state could play a positive role in the lives of people, once people were given the ability to “make the most and best of themselves”. He argued that abject poverty was the root cause of moral degradation:

For the self-development of those people in poverty, what is needed is to remove them from their condition
He believed the fight against poverty would make men moral and this fight could only be led by the political authority of the state

Theory of Freedom:

Green does not promote a negative or unlimited concept of freedom
His conception of freedom is positive; the positive power of doing and enjoying something
Individuals,for Green, enjoy freedom in cooperation with other citizens, freedom is commonly enjoyed
Green is an idealist when it comes to freedom; he wants man to do only those things that will benefit society as a whole
If everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this kind of freedom, then morality will arise
Green believed that ultimately freedom occurs when people obey the common good
The common good is the supreme guide for all people

Theory of Right:

Green understood for the flourishing of society people needed freedom and rights. A man has every right to seek his own good in society, but he must remember his duty that his goodness remains contingent upon the goodness of others. The implication of rights and liberty of one individual are dependent on the rights and liberty of another person.

Green’s rights are idealistic. When a citizen does not fulfil moral conditions, and shares interests in line with the general interests, then he cannot claim rights:

The duty of the state lies in protecting men so their rights are not hindered
Green mostly viewed rights from a moral viewpoint
The state as an institution does not create rights, rather brings them into full reality and protects them with laws

Theory of State:

Green argued the state has to act as a coercive power and it exercises power when required in order to prevent the disturbance of right. For Green, the state makes no discrimination - it develops good relations with all groups and associations within its boundaries.

Once again, Green had an ideal conception of the state - the state is a means to an end; the end is to uplift the morals of its citizens and attain the common good. Moreover, Green noted that the state cannot ever legislate in a way that violates the common good of its people

The laws of the state are important and should be obeyed “A law is not good because it enforces natural rights, but because it contributes to the realisation of certain end”:

Law is meant to promote the habits of a true citizen and does so by freeing the individual of obstacles
A true citizen will always seek to participate to promote the general welfare for the common good

Important Liberal Thinkers