Core Ideas and Principles of Liberalism

Question 1

How did Liberalism develop? What did this develop in response to? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 1

Liberalism largely developed as a response to the powers of traditional monarchical government/the landed gentry and was pioneered by the expanded middle classes seeking self determination.

Question 2

What is liberalism’s central theme? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 2

Liberalism is mostly positioned around the advancement of individual rights and the fulfilment of individual potential.

Question 3

What do liberals believe about the nature of humans? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 3

Liberals believe humans to be inherently rational and able to make decisions which will suit the individual. The individual does not tend to need guidance or influence by actors such as the state in making decisions.

Question 4

What are the 3 branches of liberalism? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 4

Liberalism branches into classical, modern and neo liberalism.

Question 5

What was the ‘state of nature’? Describe the 2 contrasting views of this by Hobbes and Locke - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 5

The state of nature is a theoretical concept described by both Locke and Hobbes which details the relationships of power between individuals prior to formal laws. Hobbes believed this to have been a violent situation in which humans fought one another in a brutal way, whereas Locke saw this much more positively, believing that humans cooperated with each other.

Question 6

What is the purpose of the Liberal state? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 6

The Liberal state is intended to exist with the function of resolving conflicts between individuals in a non-partisan manner and to create laws which preserve the natural rights of humans.

Question 7

Why are constitutions important to liberals? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 7

Constitutions are important to liberals as they prevent the overreach of government into the lives of individuals, formally setting out their powers and creating a contract between the government and the governed.

Question 8

Why do liberals value a dispersed state/fragmented government? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 8

Liberals value a dispersed state as it prevents the strengthening of a single aspect of a government. If one branch were to become excessively strong, this would lead to the threat of despotism or dictatorship, something that liberals fight to avoid.

Question 9

How does the Liberal belief in rationality prevent them from believing humans to be selfish and cruel as seen in conservatism? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 9

The liberal belief in rationality prevents them from seeing humans as selfish and cruel as they assert that rationality allows humans to avoid destructive competition between groups, establishing a sense of moderate altruism.

Question 10

How does the liberal view of humans being rational beings lead to the view of humans being capable of achieving positive change? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 10

The inherent rationality of humanity has led liberals to believe that humans are capable of using this reason to advance society and fulfil the potential of humanity.

Question 11

What body existed before the formation of a formal state? What did this body allow in relation to rights? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 11

Before a formal state, a ‘natural society’ existed in which humans were able to make use of natural rights, enjoyed regardless of social status.

Question 12

What did J.S. Mill believe was the purpose of society? How would this be achieved? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 12

J.S. Mill believed that the purpose of society was to permit the advancement of individuals, with this achieved by reduced interference of individuals in the business of each other.

Question 13

Why is property seen as such a valued right worthy of protection according to Liberals? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 13

Property is a valuable right which should be passionately defended due to it being a tangible manifestation of individualism and individual success. Society should protect this as a result.

Question 14

Society is intended to advance and develop individual lives. What 3 values should be achieved for individuals in a liberal society? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 14

A liberal society should allow individuals to achieve self-determination, self-realisation and self-fulfilment.

Question 15

What are the features of economic liberalism? What is this also known as? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 15

Economic liberalism is also known as capitalism. This stresses the importance of private ownership of property in order to allow individual members of society to expand their own personal wealth for the ultimate benefit of the whole of society. Built upon competition between individuals.

Question 16

Who was Adam Smith? What were his key ideas on the economy? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 16

Adam Smith was an early liberal economist who pioneered the idea of the free market and the capitalist mindset. Created the idea of the division of labour in manufacturing to increase productivity, as well as called for state disengagement from economic affairs.

Question 17

What was Adam Smith’s view on free market economics and how this would impact wider society? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 17

Adam Smith believed that without tariffs and barriers to trading, wealth creation would be maximised. With increased wealth, better services and prosperity for the wealthy, these benefits would ‘trickle down’ to the rest of society as a result, allowing everyone to benefit.

Question 18

What is the theory of the division of labour? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 18

The division of labour is the process by which workers are instructed to perform increasingly refined tasks in order to increase the productivity of that individual task rather than completing a whole assembly method.

Question 19

What are the objectives of the liberal state? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 19

The liberal state rejects absolutism, governs by consent, uses a fragmented government, promotes natural rights/individualism, and supports meritocracy, social justice, legal justice and formal equality.

Question 20

Why are government by consent and rejection of absolutism important features of the liberal state respectively? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 20

Government by consent is important as it ensures that the state governs in the interests of the public and is legitimate. Rejection of absolutism is important as the liberal state is founded upon self-determination and freedom from government interference.

Question 21

Why are natural rights and meritocracy important features of the liberal state respectively? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 21

Natural rights are important as they help to achieve self-determination, self-realisation and self-fulfilment as well as guarantee basic rights for individuals. Meritocracy is important as it means that political power is only exercised by those deemed competent enough to do so, eliminating privilege and nepotism.

Question 22

Why are equality of opportunity and justice important features of the liberal state respectively? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 22

Equality of opportunity is important as it means that all individuals are guaranteed to be of equal foundational status with equal opportunities. Justice is important as the state should embody justice and allow access to fair resolution of disputes where these arise.

Question 23

Why are fragmented government and formal equality important features of the liberal state respectively? - Core Ideas and Principles

Answer 23

Fragment government is important as it guarantees the reduction of power of specific departments in government, preventing excessive despotism seen in monarchical government. Formal equality is important as it means that all individuals are guaranteed the same legal and political rights as others.