Liberalism Flashcards
What’s an Ideology?
A set of ideas that provides basis for organised political action. Whether intended to preserve, modify or overthrow current system of power
Main beliefs of Liberalism?
- Freedom + the individual
- Human nature
- The role of state
- Society ~> tolerant society
- Economy
What’s egotistical Individualism?
People are self reliant + seeking + independent therefore society is atomistic with cooperative individuals
What’s negative freedom?
Liberty is an absence of constraint
What’s harm principle?
Everyone should only have freedom + J.S Mill argued that the gov should only intervene to prevent harm
What’s individualism?
Importance of the individual over the collective in political thought
What’s hedonism?
Happiness is ultimate good measured as pleasure and absence of pain
Quantity > Quality
Negative liberty
Freedom that involves people being left alone to peruse their destiny -> interference could be infringement of liberty
Mechanistic theory
John Locke argues humans are rational and can build a state that reflects their needs. Rejects divine right of kings
Developmental individualism
John Stuart Mill focused on what people could become, emphasis education
Economic liberalism
Capitalism - belief that private property is a natural right and that private enterprise allows for individual Liberty
Keynesianism
Based upon John Maynard Keynes, form of capita in that involves state directing and managing market forces for steady growth, full employment therefore greater liberty
Social contract
John Locke says state should be a deal between the government and the governed
Foundational equality
People born equal so entitled to equal treatment by the state eg laws and rights
What are the 3 types of liberalism?
Classical, Modern, Neo-liberalism
Atomism
Society is made up of self - sufficient and interested individuals
Heywoods 5 values of liberalism?
Individualism, freedom, reason, justice, tolerance + diversity
Key views of classical liberalism
Government by consent, negative liberty, natural rights, minimal government, laissex Faire capitalism + ambivaent about democracy
Minimal government
The government which governs best is that which governs the least, limited in power, how + whether they act, ‘when gov grows our liberty is restricted’ - J.S.M
Laissex Faire capitalism
‘Leave alone’, capitalism limitless capacity to enrich individuals + society as long as state intervention in the economy was severely restricted - Adam Smith
Government by consent
State should be serving not master, rejects divine right of kings
Ambivaent about democracy
Karl Marx - only property owners should be able to vote, J.S.M thought only uni graduates should vote as they were rational
John Locke views on human nature
Humans rational, optimistic + need gov to be night watchman
“Mankind is selfish yet empathetic”
Mary Wollstonecraft views on human nature
Believe optimistic human nature applied to men + women
John Stuart Mill views on human nature
Individualism leads to equal moral worth ~} development individualism
“It’s better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”
Utilitarianism
Applies principle of utilty - Greatest happiness for the greatest number
John Lockes views on society
Full of sufficient people ( rationalism), atomistic
John Lockes views on the state
Against feudal system for gov by consent + social contract, gov is necessary evil ‘night watchman’, ‘where laws don’t exist man has no freedom’
John Lockes views on economy
Free market, defence of private property, believed in the Keynesian trickle down theory, votes for all could threaten natural right to property
Mary Wollstonecraft’s view on society
Everyone has equal moral worth, becoming wives restricted female individualism as once married women had little legal protection against violence caused by spouse “such arrangements aren’t conditions where reason + progress may prosper”
Mary Wollstonecraft’s view on state
against divine right of kings, thought that women not being able to vote was a blatant violation of gov by consent, though women should have education ~> develop rationality
Mary Wollstonecraft view on economy
Thought that women were denied economic independence as they were rarely allowed land ownership or paid employment
J. S Mill view on society
Universal education helped to promote developmental individualism
J. S Mill view on the state
Argued for representative democracy (MP’s), min gov, though uni grads should vote ~> rational entities, supported voted for women, supported democracy ~> develop
J. S Mill view on economy
Believed that a free market economy helps to enrich individuals
Social Darwinism
Those who don’t thrive in a limited gov + negative freedom will be eliminated ( survival of the fittest)
Positive liberty
Freedom to make choices, enabling state helps to ensure equality of outcome not just opportunity ( welfare state)
Social liberalism
The endorsement of a regulated market economy and the expansion of civil + political rights
Enabling state
State that allows people to choose to progress rather than 1 which intervenes + forces people to succeed
Affirmative action
Positive action towards minority’s + given advantage over others to ensure equality of opportunity is enshrined
Original aim of liberalism
Equality of opportunity
Neo liberalism
A political approach which favours free market capitalism and limited gov intervention
