Liberalism Flashcards
Origins of liberalism
- Enlightenment
- A response to absolute monarchy
- Associated with revolutions such as the French Revolution and American Independence
What was the enlightenment?
An intellectual movement which opposed the medieval philosophy of religion and superstition, instead seeking answers in reason
What is an absolute monarchy?
When the monarch rules a country with few restrictions on their power
Features of classical liberalism
- Radical (at the time)
- Small state
- Free-market capitalism
- Egotistical individualism
What is egotistical individualism?
Humans naturally seek to advance their own happiness and interests
What is negative freedom?
The ‘freedom from’ instead of the ‘freedom to’; the absence of constraint
What is the harm principle?
Argued by John Stuart Mill
The government should only use its power to prevent actions that bring harm to others. This power should not extend to self-regarding actions.
What is a night-watchman state?
Argued by John Locke
The state must only act to protect the ‘peace, safety and public good of the people’
Key work of John Locke
Two Treatises of Government (1690)
What did Locke argue about human nature?
- Humans are naturally free
- Humans are all equal
What is Locke’s ‘state of nature’?
Locke imagined a time before the existence of the state. He argued humans had peace in this state of nature where they are protected by natural laws (e.g. that nobody can harm another person)
Why did Locke argue that conflicts occur in the ‘state of nature’?
There would be clashes in the interests of free individuals, therefore a small state was necessary to manage these clashes
What did Locke argue about society?
A functional society would exist in a state of nature, where people have rights such as the right to property
What is Locke’s social contract?
The contract between individuals and the government where the individual agrees to obey the law of the state in return for protections on their individual freedoms
What did Locke argue about the state?
- Social contract between people and government, where people can withdraw their consent
- Constitutionalism/separation of powers
- Should represent the wishes of property-owning individuals
What is constitutionalism?
The government must be limited by a constitution to protect individual freedoms
What is fiduciary power?
The belief that the power of the state comes from the people and must therefore act in their best interests
Key work of Mary Wollstonecraft
A Vindication on the Rights of Women (1792)
What is formal equality?
Equality under the law; everyone is entitled to equal treatment in society
What did Wollstonecraft argue about human nature?
- Optimistic, seeing humans as rational
- Believed women were as rational as men
- Individualism
What is individualism?
A belief that the individual is more important than the collective; people should follow their own best interests
What did Wollstonecraft argue about the state?
- The state should provide education to allow the individual to prosper
- Opposed the divine right of Kings, instead arguing for republicanism and constitutionalism
What is republicanism?
A political system without a monarch, instead encouraging citizens to take an active role in politics
What did Wollstonecraft argue about society?
- Women and men should be equal in society with the same rights
- Women should be allowed to be employed and own property as this would allow them to avoid marriage out of financial necessity
What did Wollstonecraft argue about the economy?
The economy could grow by allowing women to work as it would double the workforce
Why did Wollstonecraft suggest that women were like “slaves” in society?
As women were not seen as rational and had no formal equality they were not able to maximise their individual potential
Key work of John Stuart Mill
On Liberty (1859)
What did Mill argue about human nature?
- Liberty allows humans to become more developed, allowing them to achieve their individuality
- Humans should seek for ‘higher pleasures’ of the mind
What is individuality?
Each individual is unique and freedom allows them to develop their own talents and interests
What did Mill argue about society?
- A society should have debate and discussion which allows it to develop
- There should be a diverse ‘character and culture’ to society