Liberalism Flashcards
What are the 6 core principles of Liberalism?
Individualism
Freedom / Liberty
State as “necessary evil”
Rationalism
Equality / Social Justice
Liberal Democracy
Liberalism core ideas and principles: terminology
Foundational Equality
Formal Equality
Equality of opportunity
Social Contract
Meritocracy
Mechanistic Theory
Tolerance
Limited Government
Strands of Liberalism?
Classical Liberalism.. individual freedom with minimal state role (negative freedom)
Modern Liberalism… Reaction against free market capitalism, developmental individualism and positive freedom
Key terminology for the strands of Liberalism
Egotistical individualism (c)
Developmental individualism (m)
Negative Freedom (c)
Positive Freedom (m)
Laissez-faire capitalism (c)
Keynesianism (m)
All Liberal Key Thinkers
John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
J.S Mill
John Rawls
Betty Friedan
John Locke - Ideas
Social Contract Theory… society, state and government based off theoretical voluntary agreement
Limited Government… gov based on consent from below
Mary Wollstonecraft - Ideas
Reason… woman are rational and can be independent
Formal equality… in order to be free, women need full civil liberties and be allowed to have a career
J.S Mill - Ideas
Harm Principle… individuals should be free to do all except harm others
Tolerance… belief that the popularity of a view does not make it correct
John Rawls - Ideas
Theory of Justice… society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living
Veil of Ignorance… theory that individuals agree on the type of society they want with a lack of knowledge on their own position in this
Betty Friedan - Ideas
Legal Equality… women are just as capable as men and oppressive laws and social views must be changed
Equal Opportunity… women are held back due to limited amount of “acceptable jobs” for women
