2 Differing views and Tensions within Liberalism

Question 1

differing views and tensions

why do the 2 strands often disagree?

Answer 1

• each strand understands what constitutes freedom differently
• this INFORMS the role of the state in regard to society and the economy

Question 2

freedom and the individual

classic liberalism - what type of freedom did they prefer?

++++ JSMs principle

Answer 2

• negative freedom
• freedom FROM not freedom TO
• JSM argued individuals actions should not be stopped unless they harm others, ‘the harm principle
• Mill and Locke supported tolerance of the views/actions of others (Eg. freedom of speech)

Question 3

freedom of the individual: classic liberalism

Locke and Mill’s idea of individualism

different to modern liberalism

extra k… who did this influence?

Answer 3

• egotistical individualism
• individuals were self-reliant, interested, and RATIONAL
• Mill argued indiivduals should organise their own lives.
• they would be free and able to develop as individuals
• influenced the founding fathers

Question 4

freedom of the individual: classic liberalism

Locke and state involvement: what would it do to their lives? what is paternalism to classic and neo-liberals?

extra k: Isaiah Berlin

Answer 4

• state involvement would enslave individuals
• Isaiah Berlin argued when modern liberals expand the role of the state for paternalistic functions their individual liberty withers
• paternalism for classic/neo liberals is oppressive

Question 5

freedom of the individual: classic liberalism

why do classic/neo-liberals aruge paternalism is oppressive?

what did Nozick believe about suicide?

Answer 5

• welfare states require taxation, which individuals cannot opt out of
• Nozick argued individuals should have the right to consume drugs and end their own life if they wish…it should not be illegal to do so
• Eg. the Spanner case 1990: 15 gay men were convicted of assult occasioning actual bodily harm, even though all injured people were engaged in consenaul sadomasochism

Question 6

freedom and the individual: modern liberalism

what did Green argue about freedom?

Answer 6

• should be viewed positively, with the state there to encourage individual freedom

Question 7

freedom and the individual: modern liberalism

what do modern liberals believe about self reliance? what should the state offer

Answer 7

• broadly agree with classic liberals over self reliance
• but argue the state must offer a ‘hand up’ if every individual is to achieve their goals (the state is a crutch not a wheelchair)

Question 8

freedom and the individual: modern liberalism

problem with negative freedom (in modern libs opinion)

Answer 8

• lack of assistance encourages inequality
• positive freedom evens playing field so all individuals can enjoy similiar equality of opportunity

Question 9

freedom and the individual: modern liberalism

who did Green’s ideas inform?

Answer 9

• Rawls Theory of Justice
• which explained societal posotion and circumstance were of huge importance in whether an individual thrived.

Question 10

freedom and the individual: modern liberalism

liberal feminists in this debate: What did Friedan and Wollstonecraft think about freedom@

Answer 10

• Friedan cited Wollstonecraft’s ideas that the freedom of women was being harmed (harm principle mill) by inequality, which is also inconsistent with the social contract (locke)

Question 11

freedom and the individual: neoliberalism

what did neoliberals argue about individuals freedom? what did this involve reducing? what type of economy? what type of capitalism? who did this influence?

Answer 11

• individuals should not be used as a resource
• reducing state welfare
• free market economy
• laissez-faire capitalism
• Thatcher and Reagan

Rand and Nozick viewed modern liberalism as a betrayal to key liberal values of limited state and egotistical individualism

Question 12

the role of the state in economy and society

all liberals agree on: what theory of the state

Answer 12

mechanistic theory of the state
- as if it were a machine to serve the individual

Question 13

the role of the state in economy and society

classic vs modern liberals on the state: what size do they think it should be? what should the state be limited to?

Answer 13

• classic: small
• modern: larger
• classic libs believe it should be limited to maintaining law and order
• moderns think it should create conditions of freedom to allow individuals to reach their full potential

Question 14

mill and the role of the state

Negative freedom: mill’s classic liberal ideas. What should the state not do? Why should it not be overloaded/overachieving? what does more power mean for a state?

Answer 14

• should not interfere with individual development, too much interference arrests development
• an overaloded state is a burdened one
• an overachieving state limits enterprise
• more power means more likely abuse of power

Question 15

mill and the role of the state

positive freedom: when should the state interfere? what is necessary to maintain freedom? what should there be a regulation of?

JSMs exceptions

Answer 15

• to protect children, provide education, basic welfare, and public goods in default of private provision
• extra responsibilities of the state
• regulation of working hours

Question 16

the role of the state in economy and society

how did Green counter classic liberalism’s idea of liberty? how was it contradicting? what must the state therefor erecognise?

Answer 16

• liberty was useless if they didn’t have the capacity to exercise it
• state must recognise common duties to promote an individual’s capacity.

Question 17

the role of the state in economy and society

beveridge’s 5 evils

Answer 17

• ignorance
• want
• squalor
• disease
• idleness

Question 18

the role of the state in economy and society

examples of the state trying to facilitate freedom of the individual

Answer 18

• old age pensions
• assisting unemployed
• workers rights
• benefits

Question 19

the role of the state in economy and society

what did modern liberalism inspire? (bev)

Answer 19

beveridge report
- intelectual foundation for the postwar welfare state

Question 20

the role of the state in economy and society

what effect did this have on society?

Answer 20

• UK became an enabling state
• also transformed by Keynesian economics over Adam Smith’s laissez-faire

Question 21

the role of the state in economy and society

what were Rawl’s 3 principles of justice

A Theory of Justice 1971

Answer 21

1. individuals are entitled to the same set of absolute liberties
2. equal opportunities for all
3. some inequalities inevitable, but the disadvantaged should be prioritised

Question 22

the role of the state in economy and society

the difference principle

what was it?

Answer 22

‘some inequalities are inevitable, but there must be a priority to help the disadvantaged’

Question 23

the role of the state in economy and society

how did Rawls justify his 3rd principle? what was inevitable? further, what should be ensured?

Answer 23

• some inequalities are inevitable because of the meritocracy
• state would have to ensure equality of opportunity through minimum wage

Question 24

the role of the state in economy and society

how does Rawl’s differnece principle differ from socialist egalitarianism?

Answer 24

• he did allow variation to be justified
• for example, if the inventors of a vaccine became billionaires but helped save the lives of lots of people, that would be inequality that would be justified

Question 25

# classic vs modern liberalism similarities over how society should be run? type of freedom, opportunity, ownership, economy?

Answer 25

- individual freedom - equality of opportunity - private ownership - state controlled economy

Question 26

# neoliberals examples

Answer 26

- **robert nozick** - fredrich von hayek - milton friedman

Question 27

# neoliberals why did they oppose modern liberals ideas? what did they think about the states involvement? what does it limit? what was the analogy? What did Hayek argue about paternalism

Answer 27

- expanding the state limits individualism. - individuals become dependent on the state that supports them 'cradle to grave' - Hayek argued paternalism created a dependancy culture

Question 28

# neoliberals What did Hayek argue about welfare in terms of cost? What did they say about western democracies?

Answer 28

- the cost of welfare would bankrupt society - western democracies such as the USA and the UK have huge deficits because they spend more than they recieve

Question 29

# neoliberals what di Nozick believe about tax? what did he say about Rawls' idea of tax?

Answer 29

- taxation was theft and enroached on individual freedom - Rawls' principles of redistribution and social justice were socialiasm and a betrayal of egotistical individualism

Question 30

# neoliberals What did Nozick believe modern liberalism betrayed?

Answer 30

- classic liberal notions of **Immanuel Kant** who argued the individual is not a resource - modern liberalism oppresses individuals in every sense

Question 31

# neoliberals Milton Friedman and economics: what did he argue?

Answer 31

- he was critical of Keynesian economics - he argued the state was ill-equipped to plan or intervene in the economy

Question 32

# neoliberals what do neoliberals see the government as limited to?

Answer 32

- controlling inflation through 'monetarism' - the states tendancy to print money leads to infaltion only, eroding the value of private citizens wages and savings

Question 33

# classic liberalism who do the ideas of classic librealism inform?

Answer 33

- modern US republican party - modern libs - democrats

Question 34

# to what extent do liberals agree/disagree on human nature agreement? (view of humans, rational equality, individualism, individual rights and democracy) | + tyranny of who?

Answer 34

- positive view of human nature - both strands argue men and women are equally rational, calling for enfranchisement - individualism should be protected and encouraged, with a toleration of different values - concerns about popular democracy conflicting with individual rights (Mill - tyranny of the majority)

Question 35

# to what extent do liberals agree/disagree on human nature disagreement? (classic libs individualism, type of society vs social justice, type of state and freedom, feminist liberals, type of equality, type of democracy)

Answer 35

- classic liberals are far more individualistic than modern liberals - Locke and early Mill viewed society as atomistic, but social justice of Rawls is more collective and organic - classic liberals argue for a minimal state and negative freedom, and modern libs prefer positive freedom to assist individual development - Wollstonecraft/Mill considered classic liberalism to be concerned mostly about men - Classic liberals argue for formal equality where modern libs argue that human nature has a clear social dimension and equality of opportunity - classic libes prefer representative democracy filtering the majority, where modern libs insist everyone should vot

Question 36

# to what extent do liberals agree/disagree on society agreement? (society predates what, what should society allow, what type of law(?), views on rights, ideal society?)

Answer 36

- society predates the state and is a collection of diverse individuals - society should allow individuals to flourish - constitutionalism creates best conditions for society - foundational equality and human rights should be recognised within society (**Eg.** the Univresal Declaration of Human Rights agreed by the UN in **1948**) - ideal society where 'individuality' coexisted with tolerance and self improvement

Question 37

# to what extent do liberals agree/disagree on society disagreement? (classic libs and type of society, modern libs and type of society and state, rawls and help from society + priorities, neoliberals and rawls principles)

Answer 37

- classic libs (locke) argued for atomistic society where individuals are minimally constrained by a nightwatchman state - modern libs argue industrialised societies mean individual autonomy is curtailed and sthe state should act as an enabling state to assist individual freedom - modern libs argue for a state funded welfare system - rawls argues it is rational for individuals to choose a society that offers opportunities for the less fortunate - neoliberals believe principles of redistribution and social justice betray egotistical individualism