L3: Individual Rights and Freedom

Question 1

What was lockes famous line of rights, and how does it relate to the balance of natural rights and natural law

Answer 1

• Loche (life- kill, liberty-slavery, property-steal) = balance of natural rights and natural law (not enslave, kill etc.)

Question 2

What are the three characteristics of human rights

Answer 2

1. universal
2. inalienable
3. inseparable

Question 3

why is the 3rd characteristic (inseparable) problematic?

Answer 3

some seines more pressing, prioritise over others

Question 4

what does social liberalism and political liberalism each focus on

Answer 4

social liberalism that emphasis priority of social equality while political liberalism emphasises political rights

Question 5

Explain John Rawls idea of social contract and the ‘veil’

Answer 5

• Imagines the social contract as the product of a discussion about rights and equality conducted behind a ‘veil of ignorance’ – nobody taking part in the discussion knows anything about their own social and economic position

Question 6

what was John rawls two main conclusions of his social contract

Answer 6

1. Lexical priority of political rights

2. Maximin principal for economic equality

Question 7

who distinguished between positive and negative freedom

Answer 7

isaiah berlin

Question 8

What are three main conclusions of the harm principal

Answer 8

1. freedom of speech is paramount (speech cannot harm // never ban)
2. punishment (focus on harm committed not vice)
3. harm principal + moral education = minimal need for government