Liberalism

Question 1

What is the ‘state of nature’

Answer 1

A pre political society where there is unlimited freedom and no authority

Question 2

Liberal beliefs on human nature

Answer 2

Humans are self seeking, self reliant, governed by reason and capable of personal development

Question 3

What does self seeking mean

Answer 3

In nature the first thing we think about is us and our own needs and wants, seeking to maximise individual interests

Question 4

What does self reliant mean

Answer 4

Humans seek autonomy and control over their life

Question 5

What does governed by reason mean

Answer 5

Rational thinking is applied to disputes to settle them with logic

Question 6

What does reason lead to

Answer 6

Reason leads to liberals being viewed as progressive as they are optimistic about human potential to learn an improve all of our lives

Question 7

2 underpinning Liberal beliefs about what society should be based on

Answer 7

Individualism and foundational equality

Question 8

What is individualism

Answer 8

All individuals are unique and of equal worth, individual rights are more important than collective rights

Question 9

What is foundational equality

Answer 9

The fundamental belief that all individuals are born with natural rights which entitle them to the same basic liberties regardless of their sex race gender etc

Question 10

What did John Locke say about foundational equality (quote)

Answer 10

‘We have certain rights to life, liberty and property as a result of being human and capable of reason’

Question 11

What did Mary Wollstonecraft say about foundational equality (quote)

Answer 11

‘Women too are rational and capable of reason and as such women should have the same civil liberties as men’

Question 12

What type of liberals were John Locke and Mary Wollstonecraft

Answer 12

Classical

Question 13

What did John Rawls say about foundational equality

Answer 13

‘We cannot claim a just society until we can honestly say that we would not mind which circumstances we were born into- to establish the principles of justice we must imagine we are all equal- what would we agree to?’

Question 14

What was John Rawls theory on foundational equality called

Answer 14

He referred to the ‘Veil of ignorance’ as a thought experiment

Question 15

What do liberals view society as

Answer 15

A collection of individuals

Question 16

What do liberals distinguish society from

Answer 16

The state, society is a ‘realm of freedom’

Question 17

What kind of society to liberals advocate

Answer 17

One with ‘looser associations’ where relationships are more volunteristic

Question 18

What do liberal societies seek to do

Answer 18

-maximise individualism
-tolerance
-individual rights
-private property

Question 19

Adam smith’s disagreement on society (quote)

Answer 19

‘It is not from the benevolence of the butcher the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner but from their regard to their own self interest’

Society benefits from individuals’ pursuit of self interest

Question 20

What is atomism

Answer 20

Society is made up of a collection of individuals who are largely self seeking, self reliant and capable of reason and personal development

Question 21

What is egoistical individualism

Answer 21

Individuals are self seeking and should be left alone to help themselves

Question 22

What did John Stuart-Mill argue (with quote)

Answer 22

‘I would rather be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfies’
There are higher and lower pleasures in life and personal development beat pure pleasure seeking. In other words it stated that while economically humans know the price of everything, they know the value of nothing

Question 23

What did Betty Friedan argue about developmental individualism (quote)

Answer 23

‘The feminist revolution had to be fought because women quite simply were stopped at a state of evolution far short of their human capacity’

Question 24

What is developmental individualism

Answer 24

Individuals all possess the same potential for self realisation and development but may require assistance to realise this potential (larger role for the state)

Question 25

What is the most central unit to liberal thinking

Answer 25

The self/the individual

Question 26

What kind of equality are all liberals supportive of

Answer 26

Foundational

Question 27

Liberals all believe in formal equality which is ….

Answer 27

Equality under the law

Question 28

What do liberals reject regarding equality and what do they argue for instead

Answer 28

Equality of outcome, instead they argue for equality of opportunity

Question 29

What is egalitarianism

Answer 29

Principled belief in equality

Question 30

All liberals accept and advocate what

Answer 30

Social and economic inequality

Question 31

What kind of state does egoistical individualism lead to

Answer 31

Night watchman / limited

Question 32

What kind of state does developmental individualism lead to

Answer 32

Enabling state, regulated capitalism

Question 33

What is a meritocracy and which liberals believe in it

Answer 33

Rule by those with merit where merit is intelligence plus effort, social position should be determined exclusively by hard work. Argued for by classical liberals

Question 34

Liberals agree that inequality is acceptable as long as what

Answer 34

Everyone has the same chance of being in an unequal position

Question 35

John Rawls rejects meritocracy with the difference principle which is…

Answer 35

The idea that behind the veil of ignorance we would choose to have inequality in society only if it benefitted the poorest

Question 36

The difference principle argues that income wealth and opportunity should not be determined by what

Answer 36

Morally arbitrary factors, factors out of humans’ control

Question 37

What do all liberals view the state as

Answer 37

A necessary evil

Question 38

What did John Locke say about law and freedom

Answer 38

‘Where there is no law there is no freedom’

Question 39

What do liberals agree that the state should act as in disputes between self seeking individuals

Answer 39

A neutral referee

Question 40

Why do liberals fear the state

Answer 40

Because if self seeking individuals are given the monopoly over the legitimate use of force then it has the potential to limit freedom by acting in its own interest

Question 41

What is the social contract

Answer 41

A hypothetical agreement between individuals that they will form a state in order to escape the chaos of the state of nature

Question 42

What did John Locke say about the social contract

Answer 42

‘All men by nature are equal in that equal right that every man hath to his natural freedom without being subjected to the will or authority of any other man; being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty and possessions’

Question 43

What does classical liberals’ view of the social contact lead them to advocate

Answer 43

Minimal state

Question 44

What did John Rawls say about man’s desires and what kind of state does this lead him to advocate

Answer 44

‘There exist certain primary social goods that a man wants including rights… liberties opportunities powers income, wealth and a sense of one’s own worth’

Leads to him advocating an enabling state

Question 45

JS mill quote on the state and power over people

Answer 45

‘The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a criticised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good is not sufficient warrant’

Question 46

JS mill quote on the state and power over people

Answer 46

‘The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a criticised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good is not sufficient warrant’