5.3 Liberalism thinkers Flashcards
1
Q
5
Which branch does each liberal key thinker belong to?
A
- John Locke - classical
- Mary Wollstonecraft - classical
- JSM - ‘bridge of liberalism’ (classical in earlier writings, modern in later writings)
- John Rawls - modern
- Betty Friedan - modern
2
Q
5
Describe Locke’s social contract theory
A
- State not created by God, nor monarchy legitimised by divine right of kings
- State is creation of mankind
- Society constructed by theoretical voluntary agreement (social contract) between rulers and ruled
- Creates principle of ‘government by consent’
- Prevents ‘state of nature’
3
Q
4
How does Locke’s social contract work?
A
- Based on rationalistic proposition that individuals would enter into social contract to allow state to resolve clashes
- State more equitiably promotes our best interests and liberties than in state of nature
- Consent granted via elections or tacitly (no social disorder)
- If state broke contract by not protecting/enhancing natural rights, people within rights to withdraw consent and replace government (e.g. French revolution)
4
Q
5
Describe Locke’s views on natural rights
A
- In state of nature, human nature underpinned by ‘natural laws’ and ‘natural rights’ (inherent before society’s establishment)
- Laws post-social contract should follow and confirm natural rights and natural laws
- Natural rights are negative rights - not subject to interference from state/another individuals
- Locke defined ‘natural rights’ as ‘life, liberty and property’
- Government only legitimate if it legally protected natural rights
5
Q
4
Describe Locke’s limited government
A
- Intereference in society and economy should be limited
- Would ensure state always represented interests of governed and required their ongoing consent
- Constitutionalism
- Powers should be divided between different agencies to prevent abuse of power
6
Q
3
Describe Locke’s views on the economy
A
- Private property is natural right
- State’s roles to arbitrate between individuals competing for trade and resources
- Supportive of some tax e.g. to fund judiciary, police, etc
7
Q
3
Describe Locke’s views on human nature
A
- Humans guided by rational self-interest
- But are concerned for others
- Tolerance of alternative religious and political views
8
Q
4
List key quotes from Locke on the state
A
- ‘Government had no other end, but the preservation of poverty’
- ‘life, liberty and property’
- ‘tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right’
- An ‘absolute monarchy… can be no form of civil government’
9
Q
3
List key quotes from Locke on natural laws
A
- ‘Where laws do not exist, man had no freedom’
- ‘The state of nature has a law to govern it…’
- ‘life, liberty and property’
10
Q
1
List key quotes from Locke on reason
A
- ‘Reason must be our last Judge and Guide in every Thing’
11
Q
4
Describe Wollstonecraft’s reason
A
- Positive view of all human nature, viewing men and women as equally capable of rational thought
- Therefore boys and girls should be educated together
- Should have equal opprtunity for careers in marriage (‘friendship of equals’)
- Free exercise of individualism necessary if society is to progress culturally and economically
12
Q
5
Describe Wollstonecraft’s formal equality
A
- Argued truth of female reason was ignored by contemporary society and economy
- Society and economy ‘infantilised’ women denying them formal equality
- All citizens enjoy full civil liberties and be allowed to have a career
- Women should be granted legal independence once married (lacked at time of writing)
- All citizens should be free from discrimination
13
Q
4
Describe Wollstonecraft’s views on the state
A
- Supported Locke’s social contract theory
- Considered divine right of kings an ‘absurdity’
- Monarchical states should be replaced by Republican states that entrench women’s rights
- Vocally supportive of American and French revolutions
14
Q
2
Describe Wollstonecraft’s views on the economy
A
- Liberated women would thrive in and enhance free-market economy
- Supported greater legal rights in public sphere: employment and property ownership
15
Q
3
Describe Wollstonecraft’s criticism of women
A
- Women largely to blame (alongside men) for their inferior position
- Had historically accepted male superiority
- Women are the ‘prey of their senses’
16
Q
6
List Wollstonecraft’s key quotes
A
- ‘the mind has no gender’
- ‘the personal is private’ (all relationships between men and women based on power in private sphere)
- ‘friendship of equals’
- ‘prey of their senses’
- society ‘infantilised’ women
- monarchy an ‘absurbidty’
17
Q
4
Describe Mill’s harm principle
A
- Individuals should be free to take any action they judge fit, provided these did not harm others
- ‘self-regarding’ actions (e.g. freedom of speech, religious worship, even suicide) should not be subject to any restriction
- ‘other-regarding’ actions (violence) should be subject to restriction if they may cause harm to others
- Led to strong belief in tolerance of alternative ways of living
18
Q
4
Describe Mill’s tolerance
A
- Popularity of a view does not necessarily make it correct.
- Should not conform to certain customs - do not crush self-expression
- Should not force ideas upon another, instead debate them
- Free speech - leads to innovation of ideas
19
Q
2
Describe Mill’s earlier views on negative liberty
A
- Government should interfere as little as practically possible in society, especially in economic activity
- Common good not sufficient reason to impose restrictions on liberty
20
Q
2
Describe Mill’s later views on positive liberty
A
- Later argued state had moral right to intervene to help individuals attain developmental individualism by providing universal education
- Saw these ideas as continuation of classical liberalism, not a contradiction
21
Q
4
Describe Mill’s views on individualism
A
- Individual liberty was essential in development of individual in areas of creativity, culture and intellect
- Whole society would benefit
- Very supportive of free speech
- Humans could continually improve
22
Q
3
Describe Mill’s views on popular democracy
A
- Opposed popular democracy where interest of few could be crushed by interests of majority (‘tyranny of the majority’)
- spoke of electoral reform and sceptic of referendums
- Fearful of mob rule - wary of uneducated voting
23
Q
4
Describe Mill’s views on representative democracy
A
- Representatives would aggregate views of individuals
- Mass education a means to facilitate developmental individualism (universal education must precede universal suffrage)
- Therefore only educated could vote
- Plural voting for those with higher levels of education
24
Q
4
List key quotes from JSM
A
- should pursue individual freedom as long as we do not ‘deprive others of theirs’
- ‘experiments in living’
- ‘tyranny of the majority’
- ‘Whatever crushes individuality is despotism’
25
Q
3
Describe Rawls’ veil of ignorance
A
- Individuals agree on the type of society from position of ignorance where they are unaware of their personal circumstances
- Experiment would lead to enabling state, little inequality, equality of opportunity
- Lesser pay gaps unless difference principle justified
26
Q
5
Describe Rawls’ theory of justice
A
- Added to formal equality, the need for social and economic equality
- Just society must provide equality of opportunity for everyone
- Enabling state required
- Therefore any remaining inequalities can not be blamed on unequal access and structures of society
- Difference principle (distributive justice)
27
Q
3
Describe Rawls’ distributive justice
A
- Inequality could be justified in a modern capitalist society
- Justified as long as economic prosperity did not come at expense of others
- Difference principle
28
Q
2
Describe Rawls’ difference principle
A
- Economic systems be organised so that the least advantaged members of society are better off than they would be in any alternative economic arrangement (including one of equality of outcome)
- Could lead to extensive inequality
29
Q
Describe Rawls’ 3 principles of justice
A
- Freedom (harm principle)
- Equal opportunity
- Difference principle
30
Q
3
List key quotes from Rawls
A
- ‘any inequalities must be maximum benefit of the disadvantaged’
- ‘property owning democracy’
- ‘difference principle’
31
Q
1
What did Rawls mean by a ‘property owning democracy’
A
- Ownership is widely distributed so that poorest members of society can be economically independent
32
Q
4
Describe Friedan’s views on individual freedom
A
- Central to Friedan philosophy
- Individuals should be free to achieve their potential
- This self-realisation went to the heart of her beliefs
- Gender hinders women as they are constantly discriminated against
33
Q
2
Describe Friedan’s legal equality
A
- Agreed with MW that women are as capable as men
- Oppressive laws and dominant cultural attitudes should be overturned
34
Q
4
Describe Friedan’s views on the private sphere
A
- Agreed that state held limited role in private sphere
- Argued women were often trapped in domestic life
- Needed to be able to leave the private sphere if they wished and enter the public world of politics, education and work
- Differs from MW all private relationships are based on power
35
Q
4
Describe Friedan’s equal opportunity
A
- Women are principal victims of lack of opportunity and life choices in society
- Limited number of jobs considered acceptable to women
- Owing to dominant patriarchal attitudes e.g. male-dominated advertising industry
- Influenced by classical liberal view that a state based on liberal principles would allow successful combination of marriage, motherhood and career
36
Q
4
Describe Friedan’s views on the state
A
- Supported modern liberal view that enabling state could assist women in achieving positive freedom
- State could counter dominant patriarchal values that discriminate against women
- Could ensure equality of opporunity and foundational equality
- Would inlcude state benefits for single, divorced and widowed mothers
37
Q
1
What did Friedan view as the principal driver of the patriarchy?
A
Dominant cultural attitudes, rather than the state
38
Q
3
List key quotes from Friedan
A
- ‘chosen motherhood is the real liberation’
- housework ‘stifled’ women / ‘is this all?’
- ‘the problem with no name’
39
Q
1
What did Friedan mean by ‘the problem with no name’
A
Relates to housewives’ lack of purpose/opportunities
