key thinkers Flashcards
what is John Locke described as?
the father of liberalism
describe John Locke:
-an enlightenment icon and one of the classical liberals
-a highly controversial and incendiary figure in both England and America
-questioned and criticised the fundamental assumptions that underpinned gov. in the 17th century
-he published the book The Two Treatises of Government in 1690
What’s Locke’s view on human nature?
-humans are guided by rationalism - they’re naturally cooperative rather than violent or self-centred
-humans have an innate sense of natural rights, laws and justice
-overall a more optimistic view of human nature (rejects the notion of original sin)
What’s Locke’s view on the state of law?
-the state would be representative of the people
-powers of the monarch should be divisible, should be a limited government with a clear separation of powers and checks and balances
-laws would be a reflection of the natural sense of law
-the state of law would be voluntarily consented to by the people
-individual rights and freedoms would be protected e.g. through a written constitution
give a John Locke quote about natural rights, liberties and laws:
‘all mankind…being equal and independent, no one ought harm another in his life, health, liberty and possessions’
give a John Locke quote about how the state should protect citizens’ rights:
‘the end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedoms;
give a John Locke quote about individualism:
‘every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has the right to but himself’
who was Mary Wollstonecraft?
a liberal feminist
what was Wollstonecraft’s first book?
-Vindication of the rights of men, 1790
-supported the french revolution and the benefits of a republican government, equal opportunities and a constitution
-she liked the notions of equality in France’s new use of the term ‘citizen’
what was Wollstonecraft’s second book + its arguments?
-Vindication of the rights of women, 1792
-refused the argument that women weren’t rational
-argued women should have equal opportunities, and the state and society should protect and promote the rights of women
how did Wollstonecraft’s early feminism relate to liberalism’s core values?
-argued that as women had less individualism, England was limiting its abundance of intelligence, wisdom etc
-society needed formal equality for all individuals through a constitution that protected rights
-claimed women were complicit in their situation as they reinforced typical gender roles, and that to correct this education was necessary for all to realise their own potential
