Liberalism Flashcards
What is classical liberalism most commonly associated with
The 18th centuries age of enlightenment
What was the age of enlightenment
a time in the 18th century when the ideas of science and philosophy challenged traditional religious order and divinely ordained monarchical government
What are the key core values of liberalism
Individualism and freedom
Describe individualism
Individuals have self awareness, capabilities, personality and free will to decide their own destiny . Individuals over a social group
What is freedom or liberty
The freedom or right of an individual to make decisions in his or her own interests - but has to follow the law
What are the arguements in favour of freedom
1 Jeremy Bentham argue individuals are able to make decisions based on rational self interest and human actions are mainly driven by a desire for pleasure and avoidance of pain. Government should only intervene if people’s actions undermine other ability to choose. This establishes the greatest happiness for the greatest number but minority interests are disregarded in favour of the majority
2 John Stuart Mills was in favour of negative freedom - individuals should only be subject to external restraints(government) when their actions affect others negatively
3 TH Green argued society was organic and people pursue both common good and their own interests - this lead to the concept of positive freedom - individuals should control their own destiny, develop talents and reach self fulfilment and limited state intervention was required to facilitate this
What are the arguments in favour of individualism
1 all individuals are unique and have equal worth, thy should not be treated as instruments to achieve a goal but be regarded as having their own intrinsic value
2 classical liberals emphasise egoistical individualism the idea people are self seeking and self reliant
3 development individualism is a concept that links individual freedom with the creation of society where every human experiences personal growth and achieves their potential
How do liberals view the state
Essential but problematic - they seek to limit its power
1 necessary because it prevents social disorder and exploitation of the vulnerable
2 suspicious of it because as human nature is self seeking, people may use a position of power to benefit themselves at the expense of others
3 state power is opposed as it encourages people to pursue their own self interests and to use other people for their own ends
4 so limited government has to be established based on constitutionalsim
5 devolution and federalism can be used to prevent concentration of state power
What is rationalsm
1 central to liberalism
2 it maintains humans are guided by reason rather that’s emotion, instinct or prejudice
What is liberal attitude to rationalism
1 humans need to be free to make decisions about their own interests without direction from external agencies
2 individuals benefit from taking responsibility for themselves rather than relying on external guidance
3 rationalism makes a progressive society as the personal development of the individual promotes wider social advancement
4 that reasoned discussions an debates should be used to resolve disputes and conflicts
What is the liberal view on the economy
This is influenced on their arguement for limited role of the state
1 18th and 19th century liberals embraced laissez faire capitalism - economic competition based on individuals striving to generate their own profits benefits everyone - government should keep intervention in the economy to a minimum
2 essonomist Adam Smith argued human self interest was a key driving force behind economic growth
What is liberal attitude to democracy
Generally support as believe individuals are of equal value and should be treated impartially and fairly by society
Democracy should be based on
1 free elections
2 neutral state with limited power
3 recognition of civil liberties and tolerance of different viewpoints
What are liberal attitudes to equality and social justice
1 equality of opportunity - everyone has the same chance to rise or fall in society. There will be different outcomes as people have different abilities and potential
2 foundational equality - all are born equal having human rights that an not be removed by the state or social groups
3 formal equality - in society people have the same legal and politically rights based on equality before the law and equal voting rights
State intervention - is acceptable to enable individuals to fulfill potential and be treated fairly by society.
State arguements for liberal democracy
1 government lacks legitamacy without the consent of the people
2 a social contract should operate between the people and their rulers whereby th people freely give and renew their consent to be governed
3 citizens can hold the government to account
4 democracy enhances popular participation and promotes the personal growth and development of individuals
5 democracy encourages political stability and consensus in society by giving a political view to different groups and interests
Arguements against liberal democracy
1 in the 19th century liberals such as Lowe argued that the poorly educated were incapable of voting in an informed way
2 since democracy was collectivist it would lead to an expanded roe for the government requiring higher taxation and stifle individual initiative
3 democracy may result in the tyranny of the majority undermining the minority rights or individual freedom and imposing a grey conformist culture
4 most modern liberals agre with democracy but insist it should be subject to constitutional constraints and protects individual and group rights
2 key strands of liberal ideology
1 classical
2 modern liberal
How do views of freedom differ between classic and modern liberals
Classical
1 advocate negative freedoms this is linked to several features of classical liberal approach
1 endorsement of egoistical individualism
2 belief that freedom can be maximized by limiting state power, that way, individuals tale greater responsibility for their own lives instead of depending on the state
3 reliance on the state takes away a persons self respect and undermines the human entrepreneurial drive essential for economic growth
Modern
1 reject negative freedom on its own because individuals who are disadvantaged through no fault of their own requires help to overcome these obstacles. Modern liberals endorse the concepts of positive freedom which
1 supports limited state intervention in society and the economy to release individuals from social deprivation and give them greater opportunities to realize their potential
2 reinforces developmental individualism
What are the features of classical liberalism
1 dates back to 18th century an link to emergence of industrial capitalism
THEY MAINTAIN THAT
1 there should be negative freedom and a minimal state
2 state has an essential obligation to protect property as property ownership is a founder mental freedom
3 individual behaviour should be as unrestricted as possible as long as social stability is maintained
4 economic activity should be based on free market and laissez faire principles
5 large scale welfare should be rejected because it leads to immoral or self indulgent behaviour an encourages dependency on the state
Name 2 classical liberal thinker
1 John Stuart mill
2 Mary Wollstonecraft
What are the features of modern liberalism
1 emerged in 20th century as a reaction against free market capitalism
2 modern liberals believe free market has not produced freedom for everyone because freedom can not be defined as just being left alone by the state, They argue the market has to be regulated to combat inequality and -every
They say
1 formal inequality does not lead to equality of opportunities because it allows significant inequalities that prevent real equality of opportunity
2 developmental individualism should be promoted by society through interventionist state and a managed economy
3 individualism can be assisted through collective action such as state intervention to alleviate the effects of poverty and social deprivation
4 positive freedom is needed to establish real equality of opportunity
5 economic management of capitalism rather than the free market is needed to ensure the smooth running if the economy
Name a key liberal thinker
John Rawls
What is the liberal view on the the nature if the state
1 both classical and modern believe the state should
1 function according to preset regulations and practices
2 be centralized so that power is dispersed
3 guarantee citizens rights and protects civil liberties
4 exercise authority subject to consent of the governed
5 they believe the state is based on the mechanistic theory - that the state was created by people to serve them and act in their interests
What do classical liberalism say about the role of the state as advocated by mills
1 take a minimal role of the state
2 the state should simply establish a framework for human activity and leave everything else to individuals and businesses
3 the minimal state should focus on maintaining social order , ensuring contract compliance and providing protection against external attack
4 state intervention in social and economic lif should be kept to a minimum in order to protect individual liberty
5 the states role is to maintain an orderly environment for private trade, sustain the value of the currency an establish conditions under which the free market can flourish
What do modern liberals say about the role of the site as advocated by Rawls
1 the state should play a larger role in order to help individuals be free and achieve their potential
2 that state has a social responsibility to reduce or remove social and economic disadvantages if individuals are held back by their social circumstances
3 an enlarged state using taxation to provide welfare health and education enhances equality of opportunity in society
4 enabling set should improve the lot if the poorest in society without introducing equality of outcome so that considerable scope is left for individual liberty and self fulfillment
