4. What are the core ideas of modern liberalism Flashcards
How do modern liberals understand the concept of ‘freedom’?
Positive freedom – freedom to develop, grow, and fulfil our goals
This is threatened by inequality, poverty, lack of education
Why is John Stuart Mill regarded as a key bridge between classical and modern liberalism?
JS Mill makes a crucial distinction between self-regarding and other-regarding actions. Mills developed his views over time and became more accepting of state intervention
what is Egoistical Individualism (Classical Liberalism):
the belief that individual freedom involves satisfying one’s own desires and needs.
what is Developmental individualism (Modern Liberalism):
a political view that supports the idea that individuals can choose to advance and make social progress, and that the state can help make individuals more free
How is developmental individualism different to egoistical individualism?
Egoistical individualism (Classical Liberalism):
Sees individuals as primarily concerned with selfishly pursing their own pleasure and interest, owing little of nothing to society
Developmental individualism (Modern Liberalism):
Focuses on the extent to which all individuals are able to grow and achieve their potential, in common with others in society
What criticisms did Thomas Hill Green make of the classical liberal view of freedom?
Green said while employers could not force the poor to work for them, the poor were hardly free to negotiate with employers on equal terms if the alternative to agreeing to work in dangerous conditions for poor pay was unemployment and destitution
What are positive rights? How are they different to negative rights?
positive rights (modern liberalism) are freedom to do something
for example:
Right to education
Right to work / fair pay
Right to healthcare
They argued that unless such rights were respected, it would be very hard for all people to be able to: fulfil their potential (self-realisation), choose the direction of their own life (self-determination), exercise self-control (self-mastery)
Why did modern liberals believe that an enabling state was consistent with core liberal values? Give some examples of ‘enabling’ actions taken by the UK Government.
Enabling state – actively promotes freedom by ensuring that all individuals live and work in the minimum conditions necessary for them to realise their goals
Liberal government:
Education (Provision of Meals) Act (1906) – provided grants to fund free school meals for the poor
Education (Administrative Provisions) Act (1907) – Provided medical inspections for children – from 1912 free treatment was also provided
The Old Age Pensions Act (1908) – introduced a state pension for the first time – financed out of central taxation
National Insurance Act (1911) – introduced a contributory scheme for paid sick leave and limited unemployment support
What is Keynesian economics? Why did modern liberals believe that economic management was still consistent with core liberal values?
Keynesian economics – the economist John Maynard Keynes argued that economic depressions could be avoided by managing demand – the government should raise capital and invest, even if it means increasing the national debt in the short term
How did modern liberals like Green view society? How do their views compare with classical liberal arguments?
While he still obviously valued the individual, Green argued that it was foolish to think that someone can develop fully as a human in complete isolation
What was John Rawls’ ‘original position’? What was the ‘veil of ignorance’?
John Rawls’ ‘original position’ is like Locke’s ‘state of nature’ before the government and state
First, Rawls places you In…
The original position:
Your task is to decide with others what principles will govern the new society you are about to form
However, before you decide, Rawls places you behind…
The veil of ignorance:
This veil prevents you from knowing anything about who you are – (your race, religion, wealth, family, health, etc.) in order to remove all bias
What was the first principle that Rawls argued would be agreed behind the veil of ignorance?
“Each person has the same indefeasible claim to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic liberties, which scheme is compatible with the same scheme of liberties for all”
Principle 1 – equal rights and liberties
Behind the veil, we might desire a society with a perfectly equal distribution of wealth as we do not know if we will be born with advantages or disadvantages… but we might tolerate a more unequal society, if it was one in which the poor were better off than if everything was shared equal
What was Rawls’ second principle of justice?
“social and economic inequalities are to satisfy two conditions:”
“They are to be attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity” – fair equality of opportunity
“They are to be to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged members of society” – the difference principle
How is substantive equality of opportunity different to formal equality of opportunity?
Formal equality of opportunity:
Where positions in society are open to all individuals – no one is discriminated against in the competition process (Classical Liberalism)
Substantive/ fair equality of opportunity:
Where those unlucky enough to be born with disadvantages have the same opportunities as those born with advantages (Modern Liberalism)
