9.4 - Different Views and Tensions within Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

Why is there a disconnect between the two strands of liberalism?

A

They both have fundamentally different understandings of what freedom means and therefore, they have fundamentally different understandings on how this informs the role of the state.

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2
Q

What type of freedom does classical liberalism believe in?

A

Negative freedom.

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3
Q

How did classical liberals implement negative freedom?

A

Advocation for a society with freedom of thought, discussion, religion and assembly.

‘Harm principle’ as well.

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4
Q

Classical liberalism does not believe in egoistical individualism. T/F?

A

False.

They do believe in egoistical individualism.

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5
Q

Why did Mills think that egoistical individualism was the best way to organise society?

A
  • Individuals are sovereign and capable of free will to organise their lives.
  • This would make individuals freer in a negative-freedom based society and also facilitate development as individuals.
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6
Q

Why do classical liberals advocate for minimal state intervention for welfare and the like?

A

Expanding the role of the state for paternalistic functions is at the expense of individual liberty and therefore oppressive.

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7
Q

Why is compulsory welfare oppressive according to classical liberals?

A

Compulsory welfare states require taxation.

People might not need the welfare, but they must pay the taxation which is oppressive.

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8
Q

Who is known as the transitional liberal?

A

John Stuart Mill.

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9
Q

Why is John Stuart Mill a transitional liberal?

A

His later ideas advocated aspects of developmental individualism (universal education for an example)

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10
Q

How can modern liberalism be seen relative to classical liberalism?

A

Modern liberalism is both contradiction and continuation of classical liberalism.

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11
Q

Which key thinkers are most associated with modern liberalism?

A

T.H. Green
John Rawls

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12
Q

How do modern liberals argue that people can be self-reliant?

A

They require a hand up from the state for everyone to achieve this goal.

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13
Q

Why do modern liberals take issue with classical liberalism’s negative freedom?

A

The lack of state assistance only compounds the problems of economic and social disadvantage.

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14
Q

What do modern liberals think positive freedom will do?

A

‘Level the playing field’.

It should ensure everyone gets close to equality of opportunity and social justice.

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15
Q

What is the link between neo-liberalism and liberalism?

A

Classical liberals are seen as the predecessors to neo-liberals.

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16
Q

Which Conservative Key Thinkers were influenced by classical liberal ideas?

A

Rand and Nozick.

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17
Q

What is the mechanistic theory of the state?

A

The state is not organic, but created by individuals to serve themselves and their best interests.

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18
Q

How do classical and modern liberals disagree over the mechanistic theory of the state?

A
  • Classical liberals feel the state should be small and limited to maintaining law and order.
  • Modern liberals feel the state should be larger to create conditions of freedom.
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19
Q

How did Mill argue on behalf of Negative Freedoms?

A
  • Atrophy
  • Overload
  • Initiative
  • Corruption
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20
Q

What was Mill’s argument for atrophy?

A

If the state intereferes and therefore restricts individual autonomy it will arrest individuals’ development.

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21
Q

What was Mill’s argument for overload?

A

The already overencumbered state does not need extra stress from welfare.

22
Q

What was Mill’s argument for initiative?

A

An overzealous government will sap commercial enterprise.

23
Q

What was Mill’s argument for corruption?

A

Making the state larger increases the probability for abuse of power.

‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ - Lord Acton.

24
Q

What were Mill’s arguments on behalf of positive freedoms?

A
  • Atrophy Counter
  • Overload Counter
  • Initiative Counter
  • Corruption Counter
25
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for atrophy?

A
  • The state must supply public goods i.e. clean air, water, defence etc.
  • The state must interfere on behalf of children.
  • The state must provide education.
  • There must be basic welfare for the poor.
26
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for overload?

A

Extra state responsibilities are necessary to maintain freedom.

27
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for initiative?

A
  • There must be regulation to working hours to prevent abuse.
  • Individual consumers must be protected from unfair and unscrupulous marketing.
28
Q

What was Mill’s counterargument for corruption?

A

The aforementioned positive freedoms are altruistic in nature so will not corrupt.

29
Q

Which modern(ish) liberal PM was influenced by modern liberalism?

A

Asquith

30
Q

How was Asquith influenced by modern liberalism?

A
  • OAP Act 1908
  • Labour Exchanges Act 1909
  • National Insurance Act 1911
  • Trade Unions Act 1913
31
Q

What report did Modern Liberalism inspire?

A

The Beveridge Report (1942)

32
Q

What were the five ‘giants’ that Beveridge identified in his report?

A
  • Want (extreme poverty)
  • Ignorance (lack of formal education)
  • Disease (lack of free healthcare)
  • Squalor (poor living conditions)
  • Idleness (high unemployment)
33
Q

How was the role of state economic management changed during the development of the welfare state?

A

Keynesian economics overtook the laissez-faire economic of Adam Smith.

34
Q

What were Rawls three principles of justice?

A
  • Individuals had the same set of absolute liberties
  • Equal opportunities for all
  • Must be priority to help the disadvantaged
35
Q

What was the difference principle?

A

Despite some inequalities being inevitable, there must be priority to help the disadvantaged.

36
Q

What was the classical liberal outlook on human nature?

A

Individuals are capable of rationality and pursue their self-interest.

37
Q

What was the modern liberal outlook on human nature?

A

Individuals crave freedom while also understanding they have obligations to help the less fortunate.

38
Q

What was the classical liberal outlook on the state?

A

The state should be limited and controlled by government based on representative democracy.

39
Q

What is the modern liberal outlook on the state?

A

State intervention should only be enabling.

The power of the state and government should be controlled by constitution and robust democracy.

40
Q

What is the classical liberal outlook on society?

A

Society is naturally competitive.

There is no such thing as a ‘common good’

41
Q

What is the modern liberal outlook on society?

A

Society should embrace a degree of social welfare and social justice.

42
Q

What is the classical liberal outlook on the economy?

A

Laissez-faire free markets.

43
Q

What is the modern liberal outlook on the economy?

A

Injustices of capitalism should be reduced by welfare.

44
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with modern liberalism view on the enabling state?

A

It erodes rugged and egotistical individualism as people become dependant on a state that supports them.

It creates a dependancy culture.

45
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with modern liberal views on welfare?

A

They feel it will eventually bankrupt the state.

Most countries operate in huge defecits because they spend more than they tax.

46
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with modern liberal views of increased taxation?

A

‘Tax is, for the most part, theft’ - Nozick.

47
Q

Why did Nozick think modern liberalism betrayed Kant’s (classical) liberalism?

A

An individual should not be treated as a thing or resource - Kant.

Modern liberalism contravenes negative freedom and oppresses people to pay tax, obey intrusive laws and fight wars.

48
Q

Why do neo-liberals disagree with Keynesian economics?

A

The state is ill-equiped to plan or intervene in the economy as they have a lack of information about the economy.

49
Q

Is modern liberalism different to classical liberalism? (Yes)

A
  • Liberty / freedom is interpreted completely differently
  • Classical - minimal state, modern - enabling state
  • Classical - taxation as an infringement, modern - taxation to implement positive freedom
  • Classical - laissez-faire, modern - Keynesian
  • Classical - limited democracy with elites, modern - complete representative
50
Q

Is modern liberalism different to classical liberalism? (No)

A
  • Positive view on human nature
  • Government by consent
  • Rationalism
  • Individualism
  • Capitalism as good, nationalism as bad