core ideas of liberalism Flashcards
individualiasm
places the rights of the indvidual over the rights of society
liberals believe individuals should…
-have full resposnibility for their own actions
-have as much freedom as possible
-should not have freedom harmed by the state
-shouldnt be restricted by govt intervention
what is egoistical individualism
the belief that the individual should atisfy their own wants and needs
e.g Thatecherism, dont believe in a society, more of a collection of self reliant individuals
developmental individualism
believes in a society and individuals should wish to live alongside eachother
devolpmental individualism supports…
more state intervention
beleve the state can make people more free by providing welfare
(view often held by social liberals)
freedom
an individuals freedom is the focus of liberalism
(freedom) the state should….
-ensure civil liberty
-guarantee freedom under the law
-extent of state depends whether pos or neg freedom is supported
capitalism/economic freedom
-believe in the principle of free choice
-some argue for some govt intervention in the free market
whos idea is the Harm Principle and what is it
John Stuart Mill
deals with the problem of when it is appropriate for society to limit the freedom of individuals (if it risks harm to others)
positive freedom
when an individual is given freedom to do what they wish by authority
eg of pos freedom
state giving social welfare to do with income what they wish
negative freedom
when an indviudual is free from external constraintsand do as they wish
eg of neg freedom
freedom from tyrannical government means someone can act as they wish without fear of govt
what do liberals describe the state as and why
‘a necessary evil’
necessary - provides struture to avid disorder
evil- has power to coerce indidivuduals and restrict
liberals and paternalism
liberals oposse it as it does mot respect the individual as a rational being or individual freedom
how do liberals want a limited state
constitutionalism
supporting rule of law and independent judiciary
classic liberals support a ______ economy
laissez faire
liberals support limited intervention because
humans are rational and able to improve themselves
rationalism
the belief that humans are rational reasonable and logical
rationalism
the belief that humans are rational reasonable and logical
rationalism supports
individual freedom and self determindation
liberalism supports a ___ society and promotes ____
progressuve
tolerance
tolerance
the willingness of someone to respect opinions values customs and beliefs
which key thinker is associated to tolerance
John Locke
he called for catholic emancipation when people in england were not free to practice it
equality
the belief that all individuals are of equal rights and value
foundation equality
all humans have rights simply by being born and cant be taken away
example of foundational equality
the HRA 1998 act
formal equality
all individuals have the same legal and political rights
which thinker opposed to formal equality
John Stuart Mill
equality of opportunity
all individuals should have equal chances in life to succeed or fail
examples of equal opportunity
Liberal PM Gladstone created primary education for working class children
Peoples budget 1909 aimed at creating equality of opportunity
what is liberal democracy
a democratic state that has a degree of limited govt and a prominant place for civil liberties
which liberal thinker argues that democracy helps inddividuals to develop
John Stuart Mill
what is required to ensure govt powers are checked
constitution
example of limited govt
US systems, constituion lays out checks and balances and seperation of powers
what is a free market
one left to its own devices with no govt interference
which type of liberals argue free market is the most effciient
classic liberals
which liberals support keynsian
social and modern
what does keynsian reject that classic liberals accept
laissez faire economics
meritrocracy
individuals succeed on the basis of their own ability
social contract theory
the state is set up with an agreement of the peple to resoect its laws
when was the idea of the social contract popularised
during the enlightenment
e.g of a social contract
2016 EU referendum represents one for britian to leave the EU
