Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

Individualism

A

the primacy of the individual in society over any group

egotistical individualism and developmental individualism

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2
Q

Freedom/ liberty

A

the ability to make decisions in your own interests based on your view of human nature

freedom is ‘under the law’

guarantee individual freedom

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3
Q

State

A

it is ‘necessary’ to avoid disorder but ‘evil’ as it has the potential to remove individual liberty and therefore should be limited

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4
Q

Rationalism

A

the belief humans are rational creatures capable of reason and logic

allows a progressive society to define their own best interests and make their own moral choices

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5
Q

Equality/ social justice

A

the belief that individuals are of equal value and should be treated impartially and fairly by society

foundational and formal equality, equality of opportunity

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6
Q

Liberal democracy

A

a democracy that balances the will of the people, as shown through elections, with limited government and a respect for civil liberties

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7
Q

John Locke (1632-1704)

A
  • Two Treatises of Government
  • social contract theory - society state and government are based on a theoretical voluntary agreement
  • natural society before the state worked well
  • limited government, needed consent from the people to be legitimate
  • positive view of human nature and rationalism
  • ‘natural rights’ e.g. property
  • dispersal of power and state to have ‘no other end than the preservation of property’
  • ‘life, liberty, estate’
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8
Q

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97)

A
  • A Vindication of the Rights of Women
  • reason - women were rational and independent beings
  • formal equality - in order to be free women should enjoy full civil liberties and a career
  • society denied women individual freedom, e.g. denied land ownership
  • no right to vote - violation of government by consent
  • countries were limiting their stock of intelligence and wisdom
  • women were complicit in their subjugation, formal education to fix this
  • ‘the mind has no gender’
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9
Q

John Stuart Mill (1806-73)

A
  • bridge between modern and classical liberalism
  • On Liberty - ‘transitional liberalism’
  • negative freedom - absence of restraint
  • harm principle - actions should be tolerated unless they harm others
  • self regarding vs other regarding actions
  • tolerance - belief that the popularity of a view does not make it correct
  • human nature a ‘work in progress’
  • ‘government by consent’ compromised by uneducated voters
  • fear of ‘tyranny of the majority’
  • ‘the individual is sovereign’
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10
Q

John Rawls (1921-2002)

A
  • A Theory of Justice - society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living
  • ‘foundational equality’ - formal and social equality
  • enabling state, significant redistribution of wealth through public spending and progressive tax
  • ‘veil of ignorance’ - a hypothetical scenario where individuals agree on the type of society they want from a position where they lack the knowledge of their own position in society
  • people would create a better society - especially for the poor
  • state intervention will improve conditions of the poor but not necessarily narrow the wealth gap
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11
Q

Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

A
  • The Feminine Mystique
  • legal equality - women are as capable as men and oppressive laws and social views must be overturned
  • equal opportunity - women are held back from their potential because of the limited number of ‘acceptable’ jobs
  • all individuals should seek self-determination
  • gender is a hindrance to women
  • cultural conditioning - women convinced of ‘iron laws’ driven through cultural channels e.g. schools
  • acknowledged Lockean constitution
  • ‘a woman is handicapped by her sex’
  • ‘is this all’
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12
Q

Classical Liberalism

A
  • laissez faire economics - importance of consumer choice and free exchange of labour
  • negative freedom - freedom from constraints
  • individualistic - liberty is the result of limitations placed upon the state
  • the individual is independent from society and pursues own happiness
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13
Q

Modern Liberalism

A
  • progressive outlook on the state - support for worker co-operatives and an enabling role
  • positive liberty - freedom to do something
  • constructivist - create new rights via an enabling state
  • individuals are interdependent and have concern for others
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