Laissez-faire and the child

Abstract

THE doctrine of laissez-faire still plays an important part of our daily life; several spheres showing that we still believe in the individual assertion of rights as against the arbitration between individuals through state action. That the doctrine of laissez-faire, however, does not conduce to the well-being of the individual or of the body politic generally, has been established in several states, amongst which Great Britain and the U.S.A.-countries whose tendencies appear to be diametrically opposed to any unwarranted, arbitrary infringement of individual rights; to such an extent, that Professor D.L. Keir (l) feels justified in asserting that ''the exponents of laissez-faire are in disorderly if stubborn retreat upon no immediate visible defensive positions."