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