Liberal Thinkers

Question 1

Who are the five liberal thinkers?

Answer 1

• John Locke
• Betty Friedan
• Mary Wollstonecraft
• John Stewart Mill
• John Rawls

Question 2

What were John Locke’s key ideas?

Answer 2

• Social contract theory – society, state and government are based on a theoretical voluntary agreement.
• Limited government – that government should be limited and based on consent from below.

Question 3

What were Betty Friedan’s key ideas?

Answer 3

• Legal equality – women are as capable as men and that oppressive laws and social views must be overturned.
• Equal opportunity – women are being held back from their potential because of the limited number of jobs that are ‘acceptable’ for women.

Question 4

What were John Rawls key ideas?

Answer 4

• Theory of justice – opinion that society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living.
• The veil of ignorance – a hypothetical scenario where individuals agree on the type of society they want from a position where they lack knowledge of their own position in society.

Question 5

What were John Stuart Mill’s key ideas?

Answer 5

• Harm principle – that individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals.
• Tolerance – belief that the popularity of a view does not necessarily make it correct.

Question 6

What were Mary Wollstonecraft’s key ideas?

Answer 6

• Reason – women are rational and independent beings capable of reason.
• Formal equality – in order to be free, women should enjoy full civil liberties and be allowed to have a career.