History of Liberal Thought Flashcards
What political system was dominant in Europe before the Enlightenment?
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism involved significant control by central authorities, often including monarchs and religious institutions.
Who held significant influence in pre-liberal political thought?
Religious authorities
Religious authorities played a crucial role in legitimizing political power and societal norms.
What doctrine legitimized absolute monarchies before the Enlightenment?
Divine Right of Kings
This doctrine asserted that monarchs were appointed by God and were accountable only to Him.
What is the Divine Right of Kings?
The doctrine that kings derived their authority from God, making them unaccountable to earthly powers
This doctrine was often supported by religious texts and beliefs about social hierarchy.
What period is characterized by intellectual and social change challenging established dogmas?
The Age of Enlightenment
This period saw the rise of new ideas that questioned traditional authority and inspired liberal thought.
Which political philosophy emerged from Enlightenment thinkers like Hobbes and Locke?
Liberalism
Liberalism emphasizes individual rights and freedoms as fundamental principles.
Who developed an early version of social contract theory?
Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes’s ideas were foundational in questioning the Divine Right of Kings.
How did Thomas Hobbes describe life in the State of Nature?
Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short
This description highlights his view of the necessity of a strong sovereign authority.
What type of authority did Hobbes propose to maintain order?
Sovereign authority with absolute power
Hobbes believed that only a powerful ruler could prevent chaos.
What are some key ideas of liberalism?
Key ideas of liberalism include social contract theory, freedom, equality, natural rights, democracy, and secularism
Explain John Locke’s contribution to liberalism.?
Locke is considered the Father of Liberalism. He argued that individuals have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights. He also defended the right of revolution against unjust governments
What natural rights did John Locke argue individuals have in the State of Nature?
Life, liberty, and property
Locke believed these rights were inherent and should be protected by government.
What is the purpose of government according to John Locke?
To protect natural rights
Locke emphasized that government should serve the people, not the other way around.
What right did John Locke defend against governments that fail to uphold rights?
The right of revolution
Locke argued that citizens have the right to overthrow oppressive governments.
What principle did Immanuel Kant emphasize as the basis for freedom?
Rationality of human beings
Kant believed that reason is essential for individuals to claim their freedom.
What concept did John Stuart Mill defend vigorously?
Individual liberty, especially freedom of expression
Mill’s advocacy for free speech is foundational in liberal thought.
What is the Harm Principle proposed by John Stuart Mill?
Individuals’ freedom can only be limited to prevent harm to others
This principle outlines a key limit on personal freedom in a liberal society.
What principles did John Rawls defend?
Equal basic liberties and equality of opportunity
Rawls’s ideas focus on fairness in a just society.
What thought experiment did John Rawls propose to determine just principles?
The Original Position
This thought experiment asks individuals to design a society without knowledge of their own social status.
Question: How did the Age of Enlightenment contribute to the development of liberalism?
The Enlightenment challenged established dogmas and emphasized reason and individual rights. Liberalism emerged from the works of Enlightenment thinkers like Hobbes and Locke
