Liberalism

Question 1

Human Nature Agreements

Answer 1

• Individualism is at the heart of both strands
• Individual should be at the centre of political thought and takes priority over the group
• Thus opposing collectivism
• Believe in foundational equality
• Humans are rational
• Capable of making their own decisions
• Innate understanding of right and wrong
• Make logical decisions based on empirical evidence

Wollstonecraft argued that all are capable of rational thought - as opposed to just men

Question 2

Human Nature Disagreements

Answer 2

Egoistical Individualism vs Developmental Individualism
- Selfish individualism where individual seeks their own pleasure and owes no one else anything
- Individuals free to do what they wish as long as it doesnt harm someone elses natural rights
- Classical Liberals believe freedom means absent from restraint
- Negative liberty

Vs:

• True freedom is the ability to achieve potential
• This connects humans who have common goals with one another
• Thus being truly free is not just about absence of restraint but the ability to achieve goals and potential
• Personal freedom linked to freedom of others
• Positive Liberty
• State needs to provide (enabling state) education, housing, healthcare (Beveridge Report)
• Rawls argued for enlarged and enabling state

Question 3

Society Agreements

Answer 3

• Freedom is the core belief to society
• All individuals have foundational rights to as much freedom as possible
• All believe in tolerance - highlighting importance of individualism -> benefits society and individual
• Therefore Mill argued for defending of freedom of speech
• Rational individuals realise co-operation is more beneficial then conflict
• Leads to tolerance and harmony
• Emphasis on value of education -> learn benefits of tolerance
• Rawls argued that role of liberalism was to create conditions for flourishment but not inform people how to live in terms of morality
• Support meritocracy

Question 4

Society Disagreements

Answer 4

Classical Liberals
- More atomistic
- Society is a collection of self serving individuals
- Recognise economic inequality
- Sceptical of democracy -> could lead to threat to property
- Mill’s tyranny of the majority threatening minorities and property
- Mill therefore supported democracy if there was universal education
- Some believe that there should not be universal sufferage - done based on property as those without property will be jealous

Modern Liberals
- Less indivdiualistic view
- Greater belief in common good
- Individuals are not truly free if some of their contemporaries are not
- Rawls believed in providing equality of opportunity via enabling state -> truly free society
- Support democracy -> ultimate expression of rationalism
- Democracy only way to reduce tryanny
- Also leads to greater education, participation and encourages self-development

Question 5

State Agreements

Answer 5

• Mechanistic Theory - State created by man to serve man
• State is constant threat to indivdiual civil liberties -> need for limited government
• State is neccessary as otherwise it would be lawless, as humans can be selfish
• Thus, Locke argued for a social contract
• State should exist to protect rights, and if they fail to do so, individuals are within their right to forcibly replace state
• Citizens agree to give up limited part of their freedom in return for protection

Question 6

State Disagreements

Answer 6

Classical Liberalism:
- State should act as a ‘Night Watchman’
- Role is limited to protecting individuals through the ‘Rule of Law’
- E.g., property or policing
- State should guarantee formal equality by passing laws to prevent discrimination and provide everyone with equal rights (Wollstonecraft)
- State shouldn’t invefere with the day-day lives of individuals or the economy
- Strongly reject welfare state - creates dependency culture
- Thus accept economic inequality within society

Modern Liberals:
- Argue classical liberalism only leads to the freedom of a few
- Modern Liberals argue for enabling state -> offers ‘hand up not handout’
- Enabling state upholds equality of opportunity
- Argue limited state leads to huge inequality due to capitalism (Adam Smith) and stops people from achieving potential due to poverty and debt
- Thus welfare state needed (e.g., Johnson Furlough Scheme)
- 1942 Beveridge Report argued that formal equality did nothing to combat inequality of opportunity
- See state as source of empowerment not opression - aid developmental individualism
- Rawls veil of ignorance
- Friedan argued women need state support to enter the public world and leave private sphere
- Campaigned for legal employment equality and abortion rights for equality for women

Question 7

Economy Agreements

Answer 7

• Support capitalism
• As it encourages individualism and gives freedom of choice
• Liberals oppose collectivism
• Robs individuals of their freedom and makes state too powerufl
• Respect property rights and accept some level of inequality

Question 8

Economy Disagreements

Answer 8

Classical:
- Free trade and laissez-faire capitalism
- Government intervention prevents freedom of business to create profits and innovate
- Meddling state destroys wealth through tax and tariffs - depriving the enterprising of the rewards for their success (meritocracy)
- Smith argued the economy could regulate itself (demand and supply) and would have ‘trickle down effect’
- Locke argued economy should be based on property ownership
-

Modern Liberals:
- Unrestricted capitalism -> increased poverty and division
- Keynesian Economics - some level of state intervention to manage economy and provide progressive taxing
- Provide free education, healthcare and working rights
- State intervention needed to curb worst elements of capitalism
- Provide true equality of opportunity even if there is not always equality of outcome