TOWARDS A WELFARE SOCIETY: A Critical Re-appraisal of L.T.Hobhouse’s New Liberalism and Sociology Hanno Terao Cardiff School of European Languages, Translation and Politics Cardiff University Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Ph.D. March 2013 DECLARATION This work has not been submitted in substance for any other degree or award at this or any other university or place of learning, nor is being submitted concurrently in candidature for any degree or other award. Signed ………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 1 This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of …………………………(insert MCh, MD, MPhil, PhD etc, as appropriate) Signed………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 2 This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit references. The views expressed are my own. Signed………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… STATEMENT 4: PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BAR ON ACCESS I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loans after expiry of a bar on access previously approved by the Academic Standards & Quality Committee. Signed………………………………………… (candidate) Date ………………………… ii ABSTRACT Although L.T. Hobhouse (1864-1929) has long been considered one of the leading political thinkers of the British new liberalism, the whole range of his thought has not been given as much attention as it deserves. Through a thorough analysis of Hobhouse’s academically written works, the thesis demonstrates that he made a considerable contribution to the political thought of the new liberalism through his clear and articulate vision of a liberal welfare society. This vision was built upon a strikingly consistent system of political, economic, sociological, and philosophical arguments. The thesis argues these claims from three perspectives. First, while sharing with other new liberals a focus on the cultivation of individual morality as the primary purpose of social reform, Hobhouse further associated the idea with a notably pluralist perspective, focusing on the activities of intermediate organizations as well as the state. Secondly, his ethics of harmony offered a distinctively new liberal criterion on the development of morality and wealth distribution, whilst showing a notable intellectual affinity with T.H. Green’s theory of rights. In fact, despite his incessant critique of philosophical idealism, Hobhouse’s views were what could properly be called those of an ‘idealist liberal’ in the realms of ethics and political philosophy. Finally, on the basis of the integration of his new liberal ethics, idealist-inclined realist metaphysics and neo-Spencerian evolutionary sociology, Hobhouse labelled the core principle of a liberal welfare society ‘citizenship’ in his sociology, identifying its partial realization in modern society. Welfare society was envisioned as a global community premised on the mutual recognition of moral rights and duties. This vision was later in part succeeded by T.H. Marshall’s sociological theory of citizenship, but its scope and philosophical depth was a specific product of Hobhouse’s systematic thought. In summary the thesis is an attempt to show the originality and comprehensiveness of Hobhouse's welfare thought and thus to restore his reputation as a serious thinker. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Professor Andrew Vincent, who supervised my whole doctoral research with continuous encouragement and countless invaluable suggestions. His unfailing trust in my abilities gave me an enormous amount of confidence and motivation. I was also hugely fortunate to have Professor David Boucher as the other supervisor at Cardiff University. His admirable expertise and helpful feedback improved my work considerably. I would also like to thank Professor Masao Watanabe and Professor Tamotsu Nishizawa at Hitotsubashi University in Japan. They not only encouraged me to study in the UK but also always welcomed me on my temporary returns to Japan with a number of useful comments for my research. I sincerely thank Japan Student Services Organization for providing financial support throughout my entire PhD research, without which I would never have been able to study in the UK. I also deeply appreciate the staff at the Department of Politics, the University of Sheffield, and the School of European Language, Translation and Politics, Cardiff University, for supporting me in many ways including the provisions of the postgraduate funds. Also, I am grateful of the staff at the LSE Library and the British Library at London and the Bodleian Library at Oxford for allowing me to access many precious books, journals and archives. I would also like to mention the moral and material supports given to me from all those researchers, friends and colleagues I met at Sheffield, Cardiff and various conferences and seminars in the UK and Japan. Among them, I would like to express my special gratitude to: Jun Itoh, Mayuko Yoshikawa, Dr. Ko Hiraishi, Dr. Taku Yamamoto, Tomohito Baji, Sora Sato, Dr. Junichi Kasuga, Professor Colin Tyler, Dr. Maria Dimova-Cookson, Professor James Connelly, Chih-Wei Tsai, Masahiro Mogaki, Asa Cusack, Dr. Takahiro Endo, Jia-Hau Liu, Naoko and Matteo Fabbretti, Davide Orsi, iv Chih-Yang Liu, Michihito Ando and Robert Chapeskie. Last but certainly not least, I would like to give thanks to my parents, Toshiko and Itaru, who provided me unconditional support all the time. Most importantly, though, I must thank my wife, Machiko, for her extraordinary love, patience and encouragement. She was (and will be) always the source of my strength and inspiration. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. vi INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER ..................................................................................... 1 1. Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 2 2. Contributions to Existing Literature .............................................................................. 6 3. Scope, Methodology and Outline .................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 1 THE NEW LIBERALISM AND EARLY HOBHOUSE ON SOCIAL REFORM ....................................................................................................... 12 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 12 2. New Liberals and Social Reform ................................................................................ 13 3. The Early Hobhouse’s Pluralist Perspective ............................................................... 21 4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 34 CHAPTER 2 BOSANQUET AND THE WEBBS ON SOCIAL REFORM: THE DEVELOPMENT OF ETHICAL WELFARE PLURALISM ........................ 36 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 36 2. Bosanquet’s Philosophy of Charity and Hobson’s Critique ........................................ 37 3. The Fabian Socialism of Beatrice and Sidney Webb .................................................. 48 4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 59 vi CHAPTER 3 HARMONY, RIGHTS AND WELFARE: THE CRUX OF HOBHOUSE’S NEW LIBERAL ETHICS .................................... 62 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 62 2. Bentham and Inner Harmony ...................................................................................... 64 3. J.S. Mill and Social Harmony ...................................................................................... 68 4. Concepts of Rights and Welfare .................................................................................. 72 5. The Critique of T.H. Green’s Theory of Rights .......................................................... 77 6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 4 PROPERTY, FUNCTION AND JUSTICE: HOBHOUSE’S THEORY OF DISTRIBUTION ....................................................... 86 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 86 2. The Fabian Theory of Rent and The Labour Movement ............................................. 87 3. Property ....................................................................................................................... 92 4. Function ......................................................................................................................