Liberal Ideology Flashcards
Liberal thinkers
John Locke (classic liberal)
John Stuart Mill (classic liberal)
Mary Wollstonecraft (classic + modern equality)
Betty Friedan (modern liberal)
John Rawls (modern liberal)
Which liberal thinker thought of the social contract?
John Locke - obligation to obey civil government under the social contract was conditional upon the protection of the natural rights of each person, including the right to private property
John Locke individualism
Negative freedom, formal equality. People are self-sufficient.
John Locke on freedom/liberty
“where there is no law, there is no liberty”
“wherever law ends, tyranny begins”
Freedom is a natural right.
John Locke on the state
Role to protect mans “life, liberty and estate”.
Social contract theory means society state and government are based on a theoretical agreement.
Laissez faire.
John Locke on equality
State upholds law and provides foundational equality.
“Mankind is equal and independent”.
John Stuart Mill philosophy
Utilitarian with harm principle.
“Pleasure and freedom from pain are the only things desirable as ends”
J.S. Mill on individualism
Negative freedom, formal equality.
People are self-sufficient.
“Pleasure and freedom from pain are the only things desirable as ends”.
No common good, atomism.
J.S. Mill on freedom.
Negative freedom.
Free religion, speech and thought unless harming others.
Free from others even if harming self - should allow suicide.
No common good, atomism.
“Only freedom that matters is pursuing our own good”.
“I am not aware that any community has a right to force another to be civilized”.
J.S. Mill on state
Minimal state, “tyranny of the majority” - weakness.
State provides foundational equality and law.
“so long as we do not harm others we should be free to think, speak and live as we see fit, without molestation from individuals or gov’t”.
J.S. Mill on rationalism
Positive view of human nature.
Utilitarian.
J.S. Mill on equality
Foundational equality. Most good for most people implies good for everyone equally not distributivity.
