Early Liberal Thinkers Flashcards
1
Q
Thomas Hobbes
(1588-1679)
A
- Believed humans are inherently selfish and driven by brutality, fear and self-interest. If left to their own devices they would resort to dangerous violence (without government, we live in the state of nature)
- Security of the individual at the expense of their individual sovereignty
- Both freedom and security was not possible, so everyone must give up their freedom to a dictator or monarch
- Individual citizens have no worth, only central authority matters
2
Q
John Locke
(1632-1704)
A
- Deeply opposed authoritarianism of the Church and the State
- Locke believed that man was rational and reasonable and because of that, individuals had the right to use their reason and logic to make their own decisions.
- Belived government control must exist to protect natural rights (life liberty and property) so people must give up some freedom to allow for this
- This government control was in the form of a social contract where the people give up some of their natural rights to a government to receive social order and security for themselves and their property
- Locke also believed the government should be directly accountable to the public and should act on the will of the people (popular consent). If the government isn’t doing their job, it is the responsibility of the people to overthrow it
- He also placed a lot of emphasis on the concept of private property or the right of the individuals to protect and keep what they owned
3
Q
Montesquieu
(1689-1755)
A
- Believed in the worth of the individual, the equality of individuals, and the accountability of government.
- Created the separation of powers in the government (executive, legislative, and judicial), so that not one power could exceed the others
- Each citizen needs to participate in and be aware of the laws and workings of the government
4
Q
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778)
A
- Argued against class systems
- Wrote The Social Contract which is an alternative; authority comes from the governed, who remain free because they all give up equal sovereignty (general will)
- Believed man is born free, equal, and good but are corrupted by civilization
- It was therefore necessary to make people equal and then run a society through the general will of the people
- Government should be direct a direct democracy where citizens would make laws directly with freedom; the sovereign is the people, while the government is the body enacting the general will
“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.”
5
Q
Adam Smith
(1723-1790)
A
- Was against the existing mercantilist economic system which was very radical to go against. Believed the if everyone worked for themselves, they would all be better off
- Advocated for a minimalist state where the government does not micro-manage the economy, and only guarantee contracts as he believed in the rational capacities of common people to do what was best for them (negative freedoms: the absence of external constraints on personal decision making)
- Believed the governments role should be limited to maintaining rule of law, ensuring contracts were followed, and providing some public works (primary education and road maintenance)
- Was suspicious of politicians, and especially of their ability to manage the economy
- Individuals should work in their own self-interest, which in a free market will lead to a stronger economy and would therefore benefit most people in society
- Concept of The Invisible Hand - the free market would manage itself due to consumer demand and drive for profit
6
Q
John Stuart Mill
(1806-1873)
A
- Protection of individual freedom and promotion of individual decision making as the core of societal institutions
- Only limitations placed on individuals are those that protect the liberty of others
- Advocated for free speech - believed it was the marketplace of ideas
- Individuals can act as they want, as long as their actions do not harm others
- Wrote On Liberty
- Utilitarian: the best action is the one that maximizes happiness
- Liberalism is the system that best achieves happiness
- Limits of power that can legitimately held over the people
- Harm principle: the only legitimate use of power over a person is to prevent harm to another
- People are different, and know best what is good for them (Negative freedoms)
- Early feminist: The Subjection of Women (with wife Harriet Taylor Mill)
- Protection of individual freedoms and the promotion of individual decision making in the core of societal institutions
- His beliefs about the role of government in the
- Economy will evolve over time
7
Q
Which philosopher was best known for the social contract theory and believed in a sovereign ruler to maintain order in society?
A
Thomas Hobbes
8
Q
Which philosopher believed in the separation of powers?
A
Montesquieu
9
Q
Who is associated with the idea of the “general will” and the belief that man is born free but everywhere he is in chains?
Hint: wrote “The Social Contract”
A
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
10
Q
Which philosopher believed in natural rights and that government should protect life, liberty, and property?
A
John Locke
11
Q
Which thinker is often referred to as the father of modern economics and wrote “The Wealth of Nations”?
A
Adam Smith
