Liberalism

Question 1

What are the two main strands of liberalism called and when were they around?

Answer 1

• Classical liberalism - 18th and 19th centuries
• Modern liberalism - 20th century to present

Question 2

Who are the five Liberal key thinkers and which strands do they come under?

Answer 2

• John Locke ©
• Mary Wollstonecraft ©
• John Stuart Mill (C but more transitional)
• John Rawls (M)
• Betty Friedan (M)

Question 3

What is the social contract theory, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 3

• Social contract theory - people must freely give and renew their consent to be governed and they have a right to rebellion if gov breaks this contract
• John Locke
• The state

Question 4

What is the mechanistic theory, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 4

• Mechanistic theory is the idea that the state was created by the people to serve the people and act in their interests
• John Locke
• The state

Question 5

What is formal equality, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 5

• The notion of treating everyone the same regardless of their circumstances - material equality
• Mary Wollstonecraft
• The state, society

Question 6

What is developmental individualism, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 6

• Developmental individualism assumes that we may choose to make social progress and express a degree of selflessness
• John Stuart Mill
• Human nature

Question 7

What is negative freedom, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 7

• Negative freedom is freedom from the state to do things
• John Stuart Mill
• The state

Question 8

What is the harm principle, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 8

• The harm principle states that individuals should be allowed to what they want so long as they don’t harm others
• JSM
• Society

Question 9

What is the original position, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 9

• A theoretical scenario whereby nobody knows their place in society and makes decisions according to this
• John Rawls
• Human nature, the state

Question 10

What is possessive individualism, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 10

• The idea that humans look out for others as they don’t want to be in that position themselves
• John Rawls
• Human nature

Question 11

What is foundational equality, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 11

• Foundational equality is the idea that all humans are born equal
• John Rawls
• The state, society

Question 12

What is distributive justice, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 12

• The notion that inequality can be justified if it is not at the expense of the poor
• John Rawls
• Society

Question 13

What is the difference principle, which thinker does it relate to, and which of the four parts of Liberalism does it relate to?

Answer 13

• Still supports the idea that not everyone will be equal in outcome - natural rather than material equality - fair equality of opportunity to minimise the gap between rich and poor
• John Rawls
• Society

Question 14

Key disagreements in liberalism - Human nature - what do classical and modern liberals think about human nature?

Answer 14

• C - Humans are naturally rational and capable of achieving good
• M - More critical of human nature - humans may not be naturally good but can develop - they have the potential for good

Question 15

Key disagreements in liberalism - Human nature - what do classical and modern liberals think about human nature - KEY THINKERS

Answer 15

• C - Locke believed humans were naturally rational and positive
• M - JSM developmental individualism, Rawls believed humans are selfish and empathetic (original position), Friedan believed human nature has discouraged the self-advancement of women

Question 16

Key disagreements in liberalism - The state - what do classical and modern liberals think about the state?

Answer 16

• C - Small gov, formal equality in law, negative freedom
• M - Larger gov needed to ensure fairer start for the poor, equality in law but also in social and political rights, positive freedom

Question 17

Key disagreements in liberalism - The state - what do classical and modern liberals think about the state - KEY THINKERS

Answer 17

• C - Locke believed in limited gov, Wollstonecraft believed in formal equality
• M - JSM feared tyranny of the majority so wants to hear all views but have hierarchy of weight for those with education, Rawls believed in foundational equality

Question 18

Key disagreements in liberalism - Society - what do classical and modern liberals think about society?

Answer 18

• C - Equality of opportunity - treating everyone the same regardless of their circumstances - material equality
• M - Foundational equality - natural rather than material equality in which everyone is born equal

Question 19

Key disagreements in liberalism - Society - what do classical and modern liberals think about society - KEY THINKERS

Answer 19

• C - Wollstonecraft believed in formal equality
• M - Rawls believed in foundational equality

Question 20

Key disagreements in liberalism - The economy - where do classical and modern liberals disagree over the economy?

Answer 20

• C - Private property and free-market capitalism stressed
• M - Less free market to ensure equality

Question 21

Key disagreements in liberalism - The economy - where do classical and modern liberals disagree over the economy? - KEY THINKERS

Answer 21

• C - Locke believed in the natural right to private property, Woll believed that the free market will benefit from women’s involvement, JSM believed that laissez faire capitalism was essential to progress
• M - Rawls believed that free-market capitalism needs to be reduced through the state’s obligation to help its poorest citizens – this includes supporting the poor to be property owners, Friedan supports the free market but needs to have state legislation to ensure no discrimination

Question 22

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over human nature?

Answer 22

Both have a somewhat positive view on human nature and believe humans to be rational - difference comes in the extent to which both believe this

Question 23

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over human nature? - KEY THINKERS

Answer 23

• C - Locke believed people arerational and are capable of achieving good for themselves and for society, Wollstonecraft believed that both men and women are rational beings
• M - Rawls believed in the original position – that people naturally want to support those in need

Question 24

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over the state?

Answer 24

Both believed on gov by consent and the mechanistic theory

Question 25

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over the state? - KEY THINKERS

Answer 25

• C - Locke believed in consent to govern rather than God given right – serve the people not the other way around
• C - Wollstonecraft believed in consent to govern from both men and women as well as a republic over a monarchy
• C - JSM believed in consent to govern from all and in a representative democracy
• M - Rawls developed the mechanistic theory to include a broader range of gov services
• M - Friedan agrees with Rawls about the broader role of gov

Question 26

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over society (3)

Answer 26

Both believe in equality, that society is a collection of individuals and in equality for women

Question 27

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over society - KEY THINKERS

Answer 27

• C - Locke believed in equality for all (tho unclear is this included women)
• C - Wollstonecraft believed in equal opportunity for women
• C - JSM believed that society is a collection of independent atoms
• M - Rawls believed in foundational equality – the difference principle – equality of nature rather than material equality – also believed in further gov support to help equal equality
• BOTH - Wollstonecraft and Friedan both agree that society is not equal at the moment for women but that this is partly due to women’s acceptance of their inferiority to men – also agree that there is no issue with being housewives/mothers as long as women are able to make this choice and aren’t forced into it

Question 28

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over the economy?

Answer 28

Both believe in private property and a free market

Question 29

Key agreements in liberalism - Where do the different strands of liberalism agree over the economy - KEY THINKERS

Answer 29

• C - Locke believed in a natural right to private property
• C - Wollstonecraft believed that the free market economy would benefit from the role of women within it
• C - JSM believed that lassez-faire capitalism encourages private enterprise and individual initiative
• M - Rawls agrees with Locke about the importance of property ownership and agrees with JSM that individuals are incentivised to do well and achieve in a capitalist society
• M - Friedan believed that free market capitalism helps female emancipation