liberalism

Question 1

what does Locke say about the necessity of the state?

Answer 1

• “Where there is no law, there is no freedom”

Question 2

what does john locke say about human nature?

Answer 2

• “The law of nature is reason”

Question 3

what does john locke say it the role of the state?

Answer 3

the state is a “nightwatchman”
- the role of the state is to enforce contracts, maintain order and defend against attack

Question 4

what does john locke say are the natural rights?

Answer 4

life, liberty and property

Question 5

how did john locke believe a government should form?

Answer 5

• individuals give up some rights to the state in return for protection of freedoms
• the state should form from the bottom up, with consent from the people
• if thr government breaks the ‘contract’ individuals have the right to revolt

Question 6

what did mary wollstonecraft say about the rationality of women?

Answer 6

• “The mind has no gender” - foundational eqality
• placed an emphasis on the potential for education to aid in women’s development

Question 7

explain john rawls idea of the veil of ignorance and the polies that emerged from it.

Answer 7

– under the “veil of ignorance” assumes individuals are rational and risk avoidant
- “Each person has the right to the most extensive form of liberties compatible with liberties for all”
- difference principle: some inequalities are justified if they are “of the greatest benefit to the least advantaged”

Question 8

what did john stuart mill argue was the only justification for restirctions on freedom?

Answer 8

• the harm principle: freedom could only be restrictied if it was imposing harm on others
• “Over his mind and body the individual is sovereign”

Question 9

what did john stuart mill say about human development

Answer 9

• there are “higher and lower pleasures”
• man would rather be “Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Question 10

how did john stuart mill believe conflicts would be resolved?

Answer 10

through a “market place of ideas”

Question 11

what did betty friedan argue was “the problem with no name”

Answer 11

• “The feminine mystique” was stifling women’s development

Question 12

what did TH green say about negative freedom?

Answer 12

• “Negative freedom is the freedom to starve”

Question 13

Jeremy Bentham

Answer 13

• believed in utilitarianism: ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’

Question 14

what did jeremy bentham say about the idea of natural rights?

Answer 14

called natural rights “nonsense on stilts”

Question 15

what does lord acton say about power? and what implications does this have for the structure of government?

Answer 15

• “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
• govervnment must be limited through a constitution, seperation of powers and democracy

Question 16

what does samuel smiles say about state aid to individuals?

Answer 16

• “Heaven helps those who help themselves”

Question 17

what limits on freedom are proposed and by who

Answer 17

• js mill harm principle
• John Rawls equal liberties for all: one person’s freedom should not infringe upon another

Question 18

what did Montesquieu say about the separation of powers

Answer 18

“power should check the power”

Question 19

what does Thomas Jefferson say are the natural rights and what are the characteristics of natural rights?

Answer 19

• rights are “inalienable”
• natural rights are “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness”

Question 20

how did isiah berlin make a distinction between liberties?

Answer 20

• ‘negative’ vs ‘positive’ freedom

Question 21

which thinker advocated social darwinism?

Answer 21

Herbert Spencer

Question 22

what did mill say about tolerance?

Answer 22

mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be in silencing manking

Question 23

what did J.S mill say about democracy?

Answer 23

• said democracy was the “highest and most harmonious development of human capacities”