Keyword to key thinker-John Locke Flashcards
John Locke-Human Nature
- Positive view of human nature.
- People are rational and capable of achieving good for themselves & society.
- People are not subordinate.
Tolerance in religion - do not interfere.
John Locke-The State
- Social Contract Theory.
- Government by consent: rather than by God.
Mechanistic theory: govt. serves the people.
Limited government: only to focus on natural rights.
Distribution of power: not one place of concentration.
Famous Quote:
‘Where there is no law there is no freedom’: laws there to preserve freedom
John Locke-The Society
- We are a collection of individuals.
- Unclear whether he believed in equality of men & women.
John Locke-Economy
The state should respect the natural right to private property and arbitrate between individuals competing for trade and resources.
Mary Wollstonecraft-Human Nature
- Agreed with Locke that people were rational and HN was naturally good, displaying empathy for men & women.
- Rationalism/reason defines both genders: intellectually, men and women are not very different.
- Marriage must be a partnership of equals: not tyranny of the male as this prevents people from being good citizens.
Famous Quote:
‘The divine right of husbands, like the divine right of kings, may, it is hoped, … be contested without danger’.
Mary Wollstonecraft-The state
- The monarchical state should be replaced by a republic which enshrines women’s rights. (She supported French Revolution, as they focused on ‘citizens’ rather than men.)
- All citizens should enjoy equality under the law and be free from discrimination.
- Formal equality: in order to be free, women should enjoy full civil liberties and be allowed a career.
- Government by consent of ALL, not just men.
Mary Wollstonecraft-The society
- Society ‘infantalised women and therefore stifled female individualism.
- Society was vulnerable by failing to listen to the breadth of ideas/ reason.
- Women were to blame (alongside men) for their inferior position as they historically accepted the superiority of men. They need the education to realise their potential.
- Equality of opportunity: women must have the same opportunities as men, but believed most women would choose to be mothers: this was still virtuous.
Mary Wollstonecraft-The society
- A free-market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women.
- Women need to be able to have a career so they are not economically dependent on a man: the solution is education.
John Mill-Human Nature
- Reaction against the idea of original sin/ humanity being flawed.
- Developmental individualism: individuals have potential - focus on what they can become, not what they have become. Focus on education to improve.
- If individuals are free to develop, the whole society benefits.
- Liberty is not just a ‘natural right’ (Locke) but an engine for human development: HN was not a ‘finished article’ (Locke) but a work in progress.
Famous Quote:
‘Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.
John Mill-The State
- Negative liberty- freedom from state interference, unless it affects others.
- Tyranny of the Majority; the popularity of a view does not make it correct. Therefore Mill supported developing representative democracy to hear all views.
Hearing minority views help hear good new ideas and bad ideas were exposed.
Agreed with Locke about limited government.
Suggested more/plural votes for more educated to curb the influence of uneducated masses.
John Mill-Society
-Harm principle: Individuals should be free to do what they want so long as they do not harm others.
-‘Self-regarding’ or ‘other regarding’
Property is the ‘prism’ through which individuals develop their potential, providing opportunities to develop.
- Society is a collection of independent atoms.
- Married Harriet Taylor, who promoted women’s rights.
John Mill-Economy
Laissez-faire capitalism is essential to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative.
John Rawls-Human Nature
- Mankind is selfish yet empathetic, valuing both individual liberty and the plight of those around them.
- Strongly believed in individual liberty, but freedom (formal, social and economic) should be available to all equally.
- Humans are selfish and in the original position under a veil of ignorance without knowing their place in society, you would want a welfare state to protect you.
- possessive individualism: look out for others because you do not want to be in that position yourself.
John Rawls-The state
- Rejects small state; larger role required to help repel threat to social/economic freedom.
- Enabling state:liberate less fortunate individuals to advance, via public spending and public services, to enable them to fulfil individual potential.
-Differs from social contract theory → ‘original position’-if people are unaware of their position in society, they will all select a social welfare state to ensure support if they need it.
Famous Quote:
‘It may be expedient but it is not just that some should have less in order that others may prosper.’
John Rawls-Society
- The society most individuals would choose would be one where the condition of the poorest improved.
- Foundational equality developed the idea of formal equality to include equal social and political rights.
- Distributive justice: inequality can be justified if it is not at the expense of the poor.
- The difference principle: still supports the idea that not everyone will be equal in the outcome: Natural NOT material equality. But the difference between rich/poor is minimised.
