Liberalism Flashcards
What are the core ideas and principles of liberalism?
foundational equality, formal equality, equality of opportunity, social contract, meritocracy, mechanistic theory, tolerance and limited government
What is a social contract?
Society agrees to be governed by its general will
What is meritocracy?
government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.
What is the mechanistic theory?
The theory that people created the state to serve them and act in their interests.
What is egotistical individualism?
The idea that individual freedom is associated with self-interest and self-reliance
what is economic liberalism?
Economic theory that believes in freedom of the markets
What is the state of nature?
Life without government and laws
what is tolerance/ the harm theory?
the theory from John Stuart Mills that power can only be exerted over an individual if they present harm to other individuals, and power should only be used to prevent such harm upon others
what is foundational equality?
Rights that all humans have by virtue of being born which cannot be taken away
what is legal equality?
the principle that everyone has the same legal rights made by the law
what is equality of oppurtunity?
Lack of unfair discrimination which allows everyone to have the same options and chance in life
What is limited government?
Government with limited powers strictly defined by law ~government is not all powerful
what is laizze faire capitalism?
capitalism which allows business to operate under little to no government intervention
what is negative liberty?
An idea introduced by Isaiah Berlin- Freedom from constraints or the interference of others- allows to do whatever you want with no interference from others- Lack of intervention of freedom
what is minimal state?
The idea that the role of the state must be restricted in order to preserve individual liberty.
what is Keynesianism?
The idea that the government can stimulate a slow economy or recession by increasing public spending or cutting taxes
what is the neo-classical economic theory?
compatibility of economics with civil liberties and how one effects the other with the agenda focused on helping those most socially or economically weak
what is developmental individualism?
The idea that individual freedom is linked to human flourishing.
what is positive freedom?
freedom to develop one’s rational and moral capacities but with the help of the state extensively intervening in order for people to reach their full potentials - positive intervention e.g drug policies, education
What is an enabling state?
A larger state that helps individuals to achieve their potential and be free.
what is social liberalism?
role of the government includes addressing economic and social issues such as poverty, health care and education
What is Social Darwinism?
The belief that only the fittest survive in human political and economic struggle.
What is the Enlightenment?
It was a philosophical movement which was centred towards human happiness, the pursuit of knowledge and the pursuit of evidence to back up findings
What was the French Revolution?
republican uprising against the French monarchy that began in 1789
What is a nightwatchman state?
Theory that the state should act limitedly and minimally in the lives of the public and only intervene when needing to enforce laws, military actions and act like an enforcer, but reducing the help the state gives significantly apart from law and order
what is cultural conditioning?
where people learn about their surrounding culture and pick up values and norms to fit within their culture as appropriate or necessary
What is tyranny of the majority?
When majority using democratic means, takes away rights of or represses the minority
What is the veil of ignorance?
It’s Rawls’ idea that stripping people down to their rational will and not letting other outside factors such as talents or gifts get in the way of decision making~ minimizing self interest to make judgements
What are the key thinkers of the liberal movement?
John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
John Stuart Mill
John Rawls
Betty Friedan
What do liberals agree on Human Nature?
all believe individuals are rational, intelligent and keen to prioritize individual happiness and fulfilment
What do Classical liberals believe in HN?
believe that individuals are innately blessed with qualities
What do modern Liberals believe in HN?
tend to think that such qualities are potential features of HN to be developed by enlightened liberal authority
What do all Liberals believe in Society ?
society as a collection of diverse and potentially autonomous individuals seeking self determination, fulfilment and realisation
What do classical Liberals believe in society ?
human society predates the state
What do modern Liberals believe in society?
industrialised and urban societies are those where the individuals are less autonomous and therefore require state support to be free (positive liberty)
What do all Liberals believe in State ?
state should function according to prearranged rules and procedures with power fragmented and authority subject of consent of the governed
What do classical Liberals believe in state?
in accordance to negative liberty principles classical believe state intervention should be minimal and individuals left unchecked (unless it hampers the freedom of other)
What do modern Liberals believe in state ?
in accordance to positive liberty modern believe that state intervention should be much more extensive so as to enable individuals to reach their potential
What do all Liberals believe in Economy?
economy should be based on private property and enterprise (businesses)
What do classical Liberals believe in economy?
the state should adopt a laisse-faire attitude to the economy
What do modern Liberals believe in economy ?
Modern liberals have more sympathy for the view of John Maynard Keynes ( capitalism requires regular state management to ensure full employment) belief in managed capitalism explains ML’s support for supranational organisations e.g. EU
what do classical and modern liberals agree on
- Individuals don’t have absolute entitlement to freedom
-individuals are rational intelligent and keen to prioritize individual happiness and freedom
-society is a collection of diverse and potentially autonomous individuals seeking self determination, realisation and fulfilment
-state should function according to prearranged rules and proceedings with power fragmented and authority subject of consent of the governed
-economy should be based on private property and enterprise
What do modern Liberals believe in economy ?
Modern liberals have more sympathy for the view of John Maynard Keynes ( capitalism requires regular state management to ensure full employment) belief in managed capitalism explains ML’s support for supranational organisations e.g. EU
what do classical and modern liberals agree on
- Individuals don’t have absolute entitlement to freedom
-individuals are rational intelligent and keen to prioritize individual happiness and freedom
-society is a collection of diverse and potentially autonomous individuals seeking self determination, realisation and fulfilment
-state should function according to prearranged rules and proceedings with power fragmented and authority subject of consent of the governed
-economy should be based on private property and enterprise
what do classical and modern liberals disagree on?
C= individuals are innately blessed with qualities
M= qualities are features of human nature developed by Enlighted liberal authority
C=human society predates the state
M=state (intervention) is needed to free individuals in society
C= negative liberty, state should be minimal and leave individuals unchecked unless it harms others
M= Positive liberty, state should intervene extensively in order for people to reach full potential
C= state should be laisse-faire to economy
M= Keynes view, state should intervene to ensure full employment and managed capitalism
who are the classical key thinkers?
Hayek
Locke
Mill ( on state)
Wollstonecraft
Who are the modern liberal thinkers?
Mill
Rawls
Friedan
Keynes
Berlin
What did Locke think of Human nature?
Human beings are rational, guided by the pursuits if self interest but are mindful of others concerns
What did Wollstonecraft think of Human nature?
Rationalism defines both genders: intellectually men and women are no different
What did JS mills think of Human nature?
though fundamentally rational, human nature s not fixed: it is forever progressing to a higher level
What did Rawls think of Human nature?
mankind is selfish yet empathetic valuing both individual liberty and the plight of those around them
What did Friedan think of Human nature?
Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self- advancement amongst woman
What did Locke think of the state ?
the state must be representative based on the consent of the governed
What did Wollstonecraft think of the state ?
the monarchical state should be replaced by a republic which enshrines woman’s rights
What did JS Mills think of the state ?
the state should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy mindful of minority rights
What did Rawls think of the state ?
the state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance via public spending and public services
What did Friedan think of the state ?
the state should legislate to prevent continued discrimination against female individuals
What did Locke think of Society?
society predates the state : there were ‘natural’ societies with natural laws and natural rights
What did Wollstonecraft think of Society?
Society ‘infantilised’ women and this stifled female individualism
What did JS Mill think of Society?
the best society was one where ‘individuality’ co-existed with tolerance and self improvement
What did Rawls think of Society?
the society most individuals would choose would be one where the conditions of the poorest improved
What did Friedan think of Society?
society remained chauvinistic towards women, though women were complicit in their repression
What did Locke think of economy ?
state policy should respect the ‘natural’ right to private property and arbitrate effectively between individuals competing for trade and resources
What did Wollstonecraft think of economy ?
a free market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberate women
What did J S Mill think of economy ?
Laisse-faire capitalism was vital to progress individual enterprise and initiative
What did Rawls think of economy ?
free market capitalism should be tempered to the state’s obligation to advance its poorest citizens
What did Friedan think of economy ?
free market capitalist could be an ally to female emancipation if allied to legislation precluding sexual discrimination
What are the key ideas of the enlightenment?
-against/ challenged religion
-science based
-scientific method
-monopoly and wisdom associated with church was challenged
-freedom of speech and expression
-freedom of conscience
-focus on the individual and people can direct their learning
how do liberals view the indivdual?
free to make their own choices
at the heart of liberal views
what are two implications of the liberal focus on individualism?
fulfilment and development - need to be educated and have a passion for education to achieve these
How to Hobbes describe freedom?
‘Silence of the laws’
why did positive freedom evolve from negative freedom
negative freedom allows us to develop in a free market of ideas which therefore allows the free market of opinion, but education may need to be used to help us with that
what is JS Mill’s book that inspired his views on liberalism?
‘On Liberty’ 1859
what was Mary Wollstonecraft’s book called?
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‘A Vindication on the rights of women’ 1792
what was Locke’s book called?
The Treatises of Two Governments 1689
‘What was Betty Friedan’s book called?
The feminine Mystique 1963
