5.1 Liberalism core ideas Flashcards
1
Q
6
List the core principles of liberalism
A
- individualism
- freedom/liberty
- state
- rationalism
- equality/social justice
- liberal democracy
2
Q
5
Describe unity on individualism among liberals
A
- JSM harm principle (modern included mental + psychological harm)
- Tolerance
- Freedom of speech
- All individuals have equal worth
- Distaste for excessive government power
3
Q
4
Describe classical liberal views on individualism
A
- Preservation of individual rights and freedoms is above any claims by state or groupings within societies
- Egotistical individualism
- Foundational equality to facilitate individualism
- MW and JSM argued that women should be recognised as rational and equal individuals within economy and society
4
Q
3
Describe egotistical individualism
A
- individual freedom is associated with rational self-interest and self-reliance
- Consequently advocate minimal state
- Locke and JSM perceived individuals as capable of intellectually informed ideas, but self-interested and mutually indifferent to one another
5
Q
5
Describe modern liberal views on individualism
A
- Argues that classical liberalism underplays inequality within society
- Criticises egotistical individualism
- Concept of individual autonomy is overstated as some have distinct advantage in society
- Rawls asserted that one’s particular circumstance (e.g. gender, class, intellectuality) were of huge importance in determining whether individual thrived in society
- Developmental individualism
6
Q
4
Describe developmental individualism
A
- Individual freedom linked to humans flourishing in society
- Advocates state intervention in society
- Forms a more responsible form of individualism that prioritises common good over personal gain
- Would ensure equality of opportunity to facilitate individualism for all
7
Q
2
What did different key thinkers focus on in relation to tolerance
A
- JSM focused on respecting alternative religious and political views
- Wollonstonecraft/Friedan argued for tolerance of men towards women to mitigate sexual discrimination within society
8
Q
5
Describe unity on freedom/liberty among liberals
A
- All individuals have freedom as natural right
- social contract
- Individual rights should only apply to rational and responsible human beings i.e children are not entitled to be in possession of full rights
- Informs support of capitalist economy
- Individuals hold freedom to join political organisation of choice provided they do not prove threat to others
9
Q
3
Describe the link between the social contract and freedom
A
- Authoritarian governments that infringe freedom are illegitimate
- Social contract should be formed where individuals consent to rule
- Therefore liberty connected to law
10
Q
4
Describe classical liberal views on freedom/liberty
A
- Negative freedom
- Harm principle
- State needed to mediate between competing indivduals to protect liberty, property rights and prevent breach of contract (‘life, liberty and property’)
- Support laissez-faire capitalism
11
Q
2
Describe negative freedom
A
- Absence of external constraints by state in society as well as no interference in the private sphere
- Requires legislation to ensure freedom from harm or discrimination
12
Q
5
Describe modern liberal views on freedom/liberty
A
- Positive freedom
- Keynesian economics
- Agree on harm principle, but differ on definition
- Advocate enabling state to permit equality of opportunity and meritocracy
- Friedan argued gender discrimination restricted liberty of women
13
Q
3
Describe positive freedom
A
- Links freedom to personal fulfilment and realisation of potential
- Enabling state to play positive interventionist role to assist individuals
- e.g. state-funded education system
14
Q
5
Describe unity on rationalism among liberals
A
- All subscribed to Enlightenment concept that humans are rational creatures capable of reason and logic
- Human behaviour not shaped by superstition or religious views - guided by own free will
- Positive view of human nature
- Humans naturally seek happiness
- Supports progressive society → mistakes leads to self-development → promotes wider social advancement
15
Q
6
What did all liberals advocate as a result of rationalism
A
- Individuals should be entrusted with as much freedom as possible
- Freedom of speech
- Reasoned debate of ideas to peacefully develop human knowledge
- War is last consequence
- Freedom of movement for self-development
- Mechanist theory of state - social contract
16
Q
4
What did classical liberals advocate as a result of rationalism?
A
- Constitutional/representative government
- Negative freedom
- Egotistical individualism
- Laissez-faire free-market capitalism
17
Q
5
What did modern liberals advocate as a result of rationalism?
A
- Positive freedom
- Developmental individualism
- JSM argued for universal education
- Rawls theory of justice
- Keynesian economics
18
Q
4
Describe unity on equality/social justice among liberals
A
- Formal equality - no human should be given higher social status above others
- As such should be treated impartially and fairly by society
- Equality promotes liberty due to rationalism
- Foundational equality (though modern liberals argued this was not sufficient)
19
Q
4
Describe classical liberal views on equality/social justice
A
- Foundational equality - born with equal rights
- Locke asserted these rights were natural and state should not encroach upon them
- Largely ignored gender and racial inequality
- Economic equality through laissez-faire system
20
Q
2
How did some classical liberal key thinkers aim to tackle gender inequality?
A
- MW argued that women were denied formal equality in terms of property ownership, political representation, workplace etc
- JSM proposed female suffrage
21
Q
3
Describe modern liberal views on equality/social justice
A
- Foundational equality not sufficient to achieve equality of opportunity
- Social justice requires access to state-sponsored welfare system encompassing healthcare, education, min wage, etc
- Modern liberals champion minority rights, including groups yet to emerge at time of Rawls and Friedan (e.g. trans)
22
Q
3
Describe modern liberal key thinkers’ views on equality/social justice (Friedan)
A
- Friedan saw state as vehicle to counter dominant patriarchal beliefs
- Advocated further economic and legal parity in workplace to set women free
- Argued state should provide benefits for single, divorced or widowed mothers
23
Q
2
Describe modern liberal key thinkers’ views on equality/social justice (Rawls)
A
- Rawls’ theory of justice
- Rawls married social justice with difference principle
24
Q
7
Describe unity on liberal democracy theory
A
- Democracy balances will of people
- Frequent, free elections
- Social contract is the only legitimate basis for authority
- Mechanist theory
- Rule of law
- Neutral state - act as umpire, not favour one group
- Political and civil equality for all citizens (oppose autocracies)
25
Q
4
Describe classical liberal views on liberal democracy
A
- Fearful of ‘mob rule’ and ‘tyranny of majority’
- RD over DD
- Minimal government with checks and balances
- Struggle with collective concepts such as common good as views society as atomistic
26
Q
3
Describe classical liberal views on RD and DD
A
- Oppose DD as it stifles individualism as it values majority
- Prefer RD with limited electorate
- Support Electoral College remains filter against ‘tyranny of majority’
27
Q
2
Describe classical liberal views on the franchise
A
- Limited suffrage to educated, property-owning individuals
- Would represent everyone’s interests
28
Q
2
What did JSM advocate for the size of the electorate
A
- In earlier writings, argued for plural votes for educated and wealthy to prevent ‘tyranny of the majority’
- In later writings, accepted expanded electorate (e.g. female suffrage), with condition of universal education first being implemented
29
Q
3
Describe modern liberal views on liberal democracy
A
- Criticised classical liberal concept of democracy as allowing establishment to have greater power than ordinary citizen
- Rawls and Friedan favoured universal suffrage to combat ‘tyranny of the majority’ and champion interests of minority groups
- Developmental democracy - greater political participation leads to self-development to further individualism
30
Q
3
Describe how classical liberals proposed organising the state
A
- Limiting power
- Limiting jurisdiction
- Limiting the electorate
31
Q
3
How did classical liberals propose limiting the power of the state?
A
- Separation of powers and checks and balances
- Minimal state
- Based upon Locke’s principle of ‘government by consent’ and regular elections
32
Q
3 - (0) (0) (3)
How did classical liberals propose limiting the jurisdiction of the state?
A
- Minimal state operates under rule of law
- All citizens would enjoy foundational equality
- State would:
- protect property rights
- enforce legal contracts through law
- regulate monopoly power that operated against interests of consumers
