liberalism

Question 1

origins

Answer 1

• late 15th and 16th century: the Reformation, religious movement - christianty should follow a more individualist approach
• mid 16th to 18th century:
  moving towards reason and rationality rather than religion (free thinking not blind faith, scrutiny not spirituality)

Question 2

classic vs modern

Answer 2

• classic: when rationalistic ideas challenged religious ones
  > state: gov by consent, rep democracy, limited gov
  > society: individual freedom
  > hn: rational, self interested
  > econ: laissez faire
• modern: gov can enable individuals to progress
  > state: enabling state
  > society: positive freedom, welfare state
  > hn: humans can be self interested, but have sympathy for those less fortunate
  > econ: keynesian economics

Question 3

core principles

Answer 3

liberty & freedom
equality
rationalism
individualism
the state
liberal democracy

Question 4

liberty & freedom

Answer 4

• state protects individual freedoms and liberties
• freedom for all unless poses threat to others (mill’s harm principle)
• moral right to educate individuals - developed

Question 5

equality

Answer 5

• meritocracy - things in society are rewarded based on talent and ability not class, wealth, race etc.
• foundational equality - all individuals are born with equal rights
• formal equality - under law, everone is entitled to equality regardless of artificial differences (natural rights)
• equality of opportunity - individuals ‘compete’ on equal playing field

Question 6

rationalism

Answer 6

• actions based on reason and logic
• humans are born rational
• rationality instead of traditionality

Question 7

individualism

Answer 7

• developmental individualism
• atomistic view of society
• egotistical individualism - self interest/reliance, advocates minimal state
• developmental individualism - individuals choose to advance (sometimes through enabling state)
• meritocracy - things in society are rewarded based on talent and ability not class, wealth, race etc.

Question 8

the state

Answer 8

• government by consent
• limited state or enabling state
  state solely protects right or enables individuals (more involvement)
• laissez faire/keynesian economics

Question 9

liberal democracy

Answer 9

• representative democracy
• government by consent - vote
• government protects individual rights
• social contract - hypothetical agreement in society to abide by rules of law