Liberalism Flashcards
What is the ‘state of nature’
A pre political society where there is unlimited freedom and no authority
Liberal beliefs on human nature
Humans are self seeking, self reliant, governed by reason and capable of personal development
What does self seeking mean
In nature the first thing we think about is us and our own needs and wants, seeking to maximise individual interests
What does self reliant mean
Humans seek autonomy and control over their life
What does governed by reason mean
Rational thinking is applied to disputes to settle them with logic
What does reason lead to
Reason leads to liberals being viewed as progressive as they are optimistic about human potential to learn an improve all of our lives
2 underpinning Liberal beliefs about what society should be based on
Individualism and foundational equality
What is individualism
All individuals are unique and of equal worth, individual rights are more important than collective rights
What is foundational equality
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
What did John Locke say about foundational equality (quote)
‘We have certain rights to life, liberty and property as a result of being human and capable of reason’
What did Mary Wollstonecraft say about foundational equality (quote)
‘Women too are rational and capable of reason and as such women should have the same civil liberties as men’
What type of liberals were John Locke and Mary Wollstonecraft
Classical
What did John Rawls say about foundational equality
‘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?’
What was John Rawls theory on foundational equality called
He referred to the ‘Veil of ignorance’ as a thought experiment
What do liberals view society as
A collection of individuals
What do liberals distinguish society from
The state, society is a ‘realm of freedom’
What kind of society to liberals advocate
One with ‘looser associations’ where relationships are more volunteristic
What do liberal societies seek to do
-maximise individualism
-tolerance
-individual rights
-private property
Adam smith’s disagreement on society (quote)
‘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
What is atomism
Society is made up of a collection of individuals who are largely self seeking, self reliant and capable of reason and personal development
What is egoistical individualism
Individuals are self seeking and should be left alone to help themselves
What did John Stuart-Mill argue (with quote)
‘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
What did Betty Friedan argue about developmental individualism (quote)
‘The feminist revolution had to be fought because women quite simply were stopped at a state of evolution far short of their human capacity’
What is developmental individualism
Individuals all possess the same potential for self realisation and development but may require assistance to realise this potential (larger role for the state)
What is the most central unit to liberal thinking
The self/the individual
What kind of equality are all liberals supportive of
Foundational
Liberals all believe in formal equality which is ….
Equality under the law
What do liberals reject regarding equality and what do they argue for instead
Equality of outcome, instead they argue for equality of opportunity
What is egalitarianism
Principled belief in equality
All liberals accept and advocate what
Social and economic inequality
What kind of state does egoistical individualism lead to
Night watchman / limited
What kind of state does developmental individualism lead to
Enabling state, regulated capitalism
What is a meritocracy and which liberals believe in it
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
Liberals agree that inequality is acceptable as long as what
Everyone has the same chance of being in an unequal position
John Rawls rejects meritocracy with the difference principle which is…
The idea that behind the veil of ignorance we would choose to have inequality in society only if it benefitted the poorest
The difference principle argues that income wealth and opportunity should not be determined by what
Morally arbitrary factors, factors out of humans’ control
What do all liberals view the state as
A necessary evil
What did John Locke say about law and freedom
‘Where there is no law there is no freedom’
What do liberals agree that the state should act as in disputes between self seeking individuals
A neutral referee
Why do liberals fear the state
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
What is the social contract
A hypothetical agreement between individuals that they will form a state in order to escape the chaos of the state of nature
What did John Locke say about the social contract
‘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’
What does classical liberals’ view of the social contact lead them to advocate
Minimal state
What did John Rawls say about man’s desires and what kind of state does this lead him to advocate
‘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
JS mill quote on the state and power over people
‘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’
JS mill quote on the state and power over people
‘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’
