Liberalism Flashcards
Core ideas liberalism
Individualism
Freedom/liberty
State
Rationalism
Equality and social justice
Liberal democracy
Individualsim
Belief in the importance of the individual over any gorup or collective body
Each human being ins unique defined by own personal qualities- everyone is different ans share some similarties- people not deinfed to labels eg class gender rleigion
Rights beling to the individ rather than to a group and each individ is equal
Classical lib0 egoistical individualism (emphaise self reliance and self interest
Modern lib- developmental form of individualism- prioritise human flourishinng over self interest
Foundational equality
Rights belong tot he idnivid rather than to a group and each individ is equal- foundational equality
Egoistic individ
Emphasise self reliance and self interest
Classical lib
Developmental form of individualism
Prioritise human flourisiing oover self interest
Modern lib
Freedom/liberty
Ability of individ /groups to think and act as they wish
Total freedom not god- unlimited freedom for one person could mean that harm is done to others
Negative freedom
Absdence of constraints allowing freedom of choice
Classical lib
Positive freedom
Modern lib
Freedom to achivee ones potential
State
Political body with soveriegnty over a particular geographical territory
Believe every individ liberty is potentialy under threat from other memers of society therefore need restraints
Protected by socvveriegn state- social contract- classical
Rationalism
Belief world has a rational logical sturcture that can be discovered through using reason and critical thinking rather than relying on custom, tradition or superstitution
Emphasises peoples ability to find solutions to problme
Lib view of human nature- poeple guided by reason- linked to enlightenment
Equality and social justice
Belief individ are of equal value and should therefore ebe treated fairly and impartially
Social justice- situation where distribution of wealth in a society is morally justifcable
Foundatoinal equality- born equal in terms moral worth and entitlement
Implies formal equality- political and legal rights and equality of opportunity (life chances, euqal chance to achieve their goals
Lib understand- full social equality has potential to threaten freedom and penalise talkent
Social justice contribute to equally as ensures people not living in pverty despite working hard
Liberal democracy
Political system in which a liberal belief in limited government is combined with a ‘democratic belief in popular rule
Characteristics of a liberal democryc ninc free regular elections, cb limited gov, civil liberties
Lib democracy as ebing universally applicable allows for expression of widest possible range of views and beliefs by balanceing will of poeple, through elections, with limited gov and respect civil lib
Classical lib- main characteristics
Human beings are rational, egoistical, self interested with ability to be self reliant
Society atomistic- self sufficient individ-
Self help- inequality - inevitable social darwinismn
Negative freedom- absence of constraints
Limited gov- state necessary evil- role miinimal to law and order, security, defecne
Natural rights- locke life liberty property
Laissex faire- self regulating free market eonc
Modern liberalism -main characteristics
Positive freedom- enabling state, increasing freedom rather than limit
Individuals-developmental form- individ develop own skills and talents by liberty- js mill- on liberty disagreed with utilitarian idea that majority opinions are mroe important than individ minority ones
Social liberalism- need for social welfare
Keynsian polices state intervention to ensure prosperity for all
Wy did modern liberalism develop
As problems with industrialisation emerged, liberas increasingly difficult to defend classical lib that free market led to prosperty and liberty for all
Agreements classical and modern liberalism
Optimistic view of human nature- rational and self aware capable of shaping own destiny
Advocate tolerance, accept values beliefs of other
Capitalism is an effective econ system- prioritise proerty rights and reinforce individualsim
Gov by consent and need for a constitution to limit gov power
Disagree modern lib
Classical- negative freedom but modern lib- only free if enabled to do so- positive freedom
Classical laissex faire whilst modern lib support more interventionist kkeynsian
Classical lib- lukewarm on democracy- tyranny of the majority wheras modern lib support rep democracy
Classical minimal night watchmasn role for state, modern lib enabling state iwth welfare role
Locke
17c
Father of classical liberalism
Human nature- optimistic individ are rational and capable of shaping own destiny
Enpightenment
Tolerance esp religion
Natural rights- life liberty and prosperity
Gov by consent, limited gov, disagree with divine right of kings
Social contract theory- political authority comes from below gov should be legit, if gov break contract people right to rebel
Eg us constitution right to bear arms
Seperation of branches
Minimal interevntion econ- laissez faire
Wollstonecraft
Wrote about women and rights before female suffrage movement
Believed enlightenemnet optimistic view of human nature should apply to men and owmen
Vindication of the rights of women that women are rational beings smae rights as men
Liberal feminism- equlaity meb a nd women legal position, civil rights- in order to have carrer
Emphasise importance of education to encourage rational thought
Suppoort french rev republicanism
Js mill
19thc
Industrial rev
Transitional lib- rbidge
Hostility towards state intervention- classical lib
Emphasis on quality of life- modern lib
On liberty- any restrictions on liberty are only justified if designed to prevent harm to others- harm principe
Negative freedom freedom could be defined as basent of restraint
Toleration- individ should be autonomous free to exercise control over own lives and engage in rational denate
Liberty as opposed to for progress and emphasised iportance of individ developmental individ
Fear democratic state tyrpanny majority
Popularity of a view doe snot necessarly make it correct
Friedan
-20th century
Feminist
Founder national organisation of women
Defined women liberation in terms of establishing euqal status for women and men in society- more opp for women in education and work- equality of opportunity esp legal barriers
Concern for individualism
Cultural conditions rather than human nature posed barriers to women progression
Feminie mystique 1963 gender serious hinderance all women
Rawls
Modern liberalism
A theory of justice- theory of justice as fairness social inequality only justified if iit benefits the least adv in socitey
Foundational equality- needed both legal social econ euqality
Redistribution and social welfare- more equal society enabling state- progressive taxation
Redistribution of wealth consistent with liberalism as human nature- being rational would inevitably lead peopoe to choose a faiere society rather than unewual one
Veil of ignorance- if didnt know own life crcumstances- poeple would chose fairwst society[
Economy- agreement liberalism
Belief in market based capitalistic econ
Private porberty natural right
Linked to race of individualism
Benefits everyone- ptimistic ideas about progress
Economy disagreement liberalism
More disagreement than agreement
Level of state intervention
Fiarness in socitey
Econ lib disagree level of state intervention classical
Negative liberty and minimal state led to endorse adam smith theory of laissex fiare econ
Laissex faire make individ and society more prosperous because wealth of sucessful indvid would trickele down to rest of socitey
Free trade abolish all duties and tarrifs
Econ-lib-disafree- level of state intervention- modern
Keynes state regulated capitalisn to ensure full employment vital to secure max individ freeodm
State directed capitalism guidecon gov manage levl of demand to avoid econ slump public spending programme to creatte jobs and stimulate econ
Econ lib disagree faireness in society
Classical- egoistical individ, alissex faire, seek to be most profitable trickle down
Modern0equality of oppp is vital, injustices resultiing from capitalism should be reduced by the state thorugh welfare and redisrtibution of income
Locke on econ
State should respect natural righst to private property
Should be limitied in how interfere in econ
Wollstonecraft on econ
Free market econ could e enhanced by inolvement of liberated workforve
Greater employment and property rights for women
Js mill on econ
Laissex faire capitalism vital for progress
Should be minimal gov intervention in econ
Js mill eocn
Laissex faire capitalism vital for progress
Shouldbe minimal gov intervention in econ
Rawls on econ
Free market capitalism should be regulated
State should help poorest citizens
Build on classical idea of foundational equality, econ euqality should be the aim
Friedan on econ
No sex discrim in capitalist system
State agreement
Power should be dispersed
Prevent too much power at top- 3 branches
Gov by consent- locke social contract- can rebel if broken by state- americna contsitution- disagree how far
State guarenttee righs- locke natrual, mill harm pirnciple
All fear autocratic gov
Disagreements state lib
Level state intervention
Attitude to democracy
State level of state intervention lib
Neg v positive freedom (fedine)
State protect property rights, enforcement of legal contracts , regulate monopoly power- locked
Mill actions only justified if affect others directly- harm principle, tolersation of others, freedom of thought, interfere with autocracy, decrease indivdi development
Night watchmen state v enabling state
Enabling rawls- equality of opportunity, education and decreasing influence of inherited privilegde, state powerful tool to decrease inequality in society- freiden argue state sturcture which to gaurentee societal and econ equalitya nd opp for women
Welfare state- help those unable to defend themselves against deprivation- unemployment, sick elderly
Rawls veil of influence- soicetal position, circumstances whether an individ suceed or fail- state shoudl increase fairness
Disagree state attitutde to democracy lib
Sceptical- fear tyranny of majoirty- compromise lib vaules- locke and wollstoncraft
Mill only those with appropriate formal education should vote- feared domination of working class
Vs
Moddern optimisn abiut ways which lib rep democracy can enhance constitutional govv, lib democracy allows peoplpe to flourish
Locke on state
State limited rep, based on consent of people social contract
Clear seperaion of power
Right to rebel
Divine right to rule
Wollsttonecraft on state
Monarchical state replaced with republic that ensures womens rights, support social contract
Js mill on state
Oppose popular democracy but believe rep democracy is an effective system but mits have respect for minoroity rights
State tooerant diff opnions
Harm princile- only real jsutfication for state theat prevent direct harm others
Rawls on state
Enabling state help less fortunate make progress
Developmental individualism- justice and fairness ensures support for welfare state
Freidman on state
State should act to prevent discrimination against women
Human nature agreement lib
Agree more than disagree
Generally rational and intelligent
Unique and share same status
Able to plan own future and keen to priorise individ fulfillment and hapiness
Respectful of wishes of others
Capable of reasoned debate to solve problems and resolve conflicts
Disagreement human nature
Rational thought- classical- preference to persue own enlightened self iinterest
Modern- individ sympathetic to eacho ther, natural egoism is tempered with atleast some degree of alturism, aware of obligation to help others
Human abilities and qualities- classical- locje individ innately blessed with qualities and characteristics listed above idea of natural rights laws and liberties
Modern- mill and modern lib rawls believe these qualities are potential features of human nature that can be encouraged and developed by an enlightened lib state
Modern lib agree mill theory of individuals, it refers to what individ coudl become if enabled to fulfill their potential - developmental individualism
Locke on human nature
Human beings are rational, motivated by own self interest but awaree of righst and needs of others
State of nature of human race is underpinned by natural laws righs and liberties
Wollstonecraft on human nature
Both men and women are rational- men are not intellectually superior to women, women entitled to same rights as men
Js mill on human nature
Human nature, although fundamentially rational- is not fixed it is constantly progressive
Individ liberty is crucial for the development of creativity and intellectualism
Rawls on human nature
Human beings egoistial but also empathetic and alturistic
Value their individ liberty but also are sympathetic to needs of others
Friedan on human nature
Human nature evolved in way that is patriarchical and discriminatory
Not necessarly promoting self advancement for women
Society lib agreement
Society as a collection of diverse autonomous individ seperate from the state
Society- realm of freedom whilst state realm of coercian
Ffreedom most important social value for liberty
Not complete freedom- harm principle js mill, mimimal restrictios
But differ positive and negative freedom
Tolerance in society- acceot values and customs of others
Lib common view of society essay plan
Loa limited degree
Disagree role of individ within socitey, equality within society
Society lib disagree
Atomistic individualsim
Foundational equality
Positive and negative freedom
Atomistic individualism- lib disagree society
Classical- societyy atomistic, colection self sufficient individ, society is competitive not on common good
Modern- indvid must be tempered with social action and recognition of common good
Society lib disagree foundational equality
Classcial- social darwinism- survival of the fitest, belief in foundational equality, inequality inevitable meritocracy
- foundational equality inequality inevitable- meritocracy
Modern- foundational euqlaity isnt enough to guarenttee euqlaity of opp and soical justie- rawls believed citizens always choose society fair- veil of ignorance
Society- lib- positive v negative freedmo
Classical- neg freedom absence of constraints
Modern- poisitive freedom=- ability to porgress and achieve fulfilment
Locke society
Before state existed natural society natural laws and rights- state should minimise its interference in socities, should be tolerated between different views in society
Wollstonecraft society
Society infantilises women and thus limits their individualism and ability to progress
Opp to all forms of discirimination, support for equality
Js mill society
Best form of society is one combining individuals with tolerance, self imporvement
Rawls society
Most individ would naturally choose society where condition of poorest is imporved
Equality if opp is importeny justice and fairness
Freidan society
Society is chauvanistic towards women, critical of patriarchical attitudes
All lib agree on concept of freedom
Some but limited- freedom core prinicple liberalism
All agree individ freedom important, harm prevent to each other
Disagree- neg v positive, econ freedom (free trade and laissez faire v enabling state)
