Liberalism

Question 1

What is Liberalism?

Answer 1

A political ideology that stressed the rights of the individual against the state.

Question 2

What event is considered the classic statement of the Liberal outlook?

Answer 2

The Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Question 3

What is Individualism?

Answer 3

The idea of the individual having rights that cannot be infringed by the state.

Question 4

What is the classical Liberal interpretation of individualism?

Answer 4

Egoistical individualism - People are self-sufficient and self-reliant. Society is a collection of separate individuals.

Question 5

What is the new Liberal interpretation of individualism?

Answer 5

Developmental individualism - State intervention to help the most disadvantaged be self-sufficient is justified.

Question 6

What is a core idea linked to the concept of individualism?

Answer 6

Tolerance.

Question 7

What is the most important of all Liberal values?

Answer 7

Freedom

Question 8

What is a positive freedom?

Answer 8

Freedom to do or have something (e.g. freedom to have money)

Question 9

What is a negative freedom?

Answer 9

Freedom from something (e.g. freedom to privacy)

Question 10

What do Liberals believe about the state?

Answer 10

It is a necessary evil: the state is needed to avert disorder and protect the vulnerable from exploitation.

Question 11

What do Liberals argue for regarding the state?

Answer 11

Limited Government: the state should have checks & balances on the exercise of power. This is most often seen in Constitutionalism

Question 12

What do Liberals argue for regarding the economy?

Answer 12

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Question 13

What is Rationalism?

Answer 13

The idea that individuals should be free to exercise their judgment about their own interests without needing to be guided by external authorities.

Question 14

What are some examples of Rationalism in action?

Answer 14

Free-market economy: people will do what is best for them.

International Relations: War is a last resort, peace is better.

United Nations: Interconnectedness leads to more freedom for the people.

Question 15

What equality do Liberals argue for?

Answer 15

Equality of opportunity.

Question 16

What is Foundational Equality?

Answer 16

Everyone starts with the same rights by virtue of being born: They cannot be taken away.

Question 17

What do Classical Liberals believe about societal inequality?

Answer 17

It is necessary: Meritocracy leads to some people having more than others based on their skills and talents.

Question 18

What is Liberal Democracy?

Answer 18

Free elections to give the people the power.
Limitations on the power of the state.
Respect for civil liberties & toleration of differing opinions.

Question 19

What disagreements are there between Liberals around Human nature?

Answer 19

Positive and Negative Freedom

Question 20

What disagreements are there between Liberals around the state?

Answer 20

Positive and Negative Freedom

State Intervention into economy

Question 21

What was the Beveridge Report?

What were the ‘five giants’ in the Beveridge report?

Answer 21

A report published in 1942 that argued liberty should be equally available to all, and that people were held back by the ‘five giants.’

Want, Ignorance, Disease, Squalor, Idleness.

Question 22

What are some similarities between Modern & Classical Liberalism?

Answer 22

Both seek to enhance individual freedom.
Both believe in equal rights & equality of opportunity.
Both wish to place limits on the power of the state.
Both support the fundamental concepts of private ownership & capitalism.

Question 23

What were the ideas of John Locke?

Answer 23

Society & the state are based on a social contract; the state works for the people, not the other way around.
Government should be limited and based on the consent of the people.

Question 24

What were the ideas of Mary Wollstonecraft?

Answer 24

Women are rational, independent beings the same as men. Women should therefore enjoy equal rights and liberties, just the same as men do.

Question 25

What were the ideas of John Stuart Mill?

Answer 25

Individuals should be entirely free to do whatever they want apart from harming others. He also said that it is important to accept and tolerate behavior or ideas that are different from your own.

Question 26

What were the ideas of John Rawls?

Answer 26

Society must be just, and guarantee each citizen a life worth living. There will always be a degree of inequality, but the state should aim to minimize the difference in outcomes for the best off and poorest. Rejected the extremes of communism & unregulated capitalism.

Question 27

What were the ideas of Betty Friedan?

Answer 27

Women are as capable as men, and oppressive laws should be rejected. Conditioning is what leads women to seek housekeeping and mothering duties, and a level playing field between men and women is necessary.

Question 28

What did Locke believe about Human Nature

Answer 28

-In the State of Nature people are egotistical (self-interested) but respectful -People are naturally reasonable -Natural rights exist

Question 29

What did John Locke believe about the economy?

Answer 29

-saw property as a natural right -Laissez-faire capitalism

Question 30

What did John Locke believe about society?

Answer 30

-rejected divine right of kings -consent to be governed comes from below -the Social Contract -championed rights of religious non-comformists

Question 31

What did John Locke believe about the state?

Answer 31

-Limited gov -minimal state -constitutionalism -representative gov -only property owners vote -mechanistic theory-In the State of Nature people are egotistical (self-interested) but respectful -People are naturally reasonable -Natural rights exist

Question 32

Human Nature agreement

Answer 32

Individualism is key All liberals believe that humans have the capacity for rationality and tolerance. They ALL believe in foundational and formal equality. They differ over equality of opportunity. ALL reject equality of outcome ALL liberals believe that morality is the choice of the individual

Question 33

Human Nature disagreement

Answer 33

Classical Egoistical individualism self-interested, competitive, self reliant Foundational equality = natural rights Formal equality = legal rights Equality of opportunity = strict meritocracy Locke, Mill Women just as rational as men - Wollstonecraft (and Mill) Modern developmental individualism Altruism (self-interested to care for others) foundational equality = human rights (UDHR) Formal equality = legal AND political rights (universal suffrage) equality of opportunity = enabling state Rawls, Freidan

Question 34

Society - Agreement

Answer 34

ALL liberals favour individualism over collectivism. ALL liberals believe that society ought to maximise freedom ALL liberals believe that society ought to be tolerant. ALL liberals believe that society ought to promote equality of opportunity.

Question 35

Society disagreement

Answer 35

Classical Negative freedom - opposed to slavery (Locke) tolerance is beneficial: based on rationalism provides autonomy for individuals benefits society as well as individuals Equality of opportunity = strict meritocracy Modern positive freedom - opposed to a lack of opportunity - Green, Friedan tolerance allows for a diversity of lifestyles. Rawls equality of opportunity = enabling state

Question 36

The state - Agreement

Answer 36

ALL liberal believe that the state is a necessary evil ALL liberals believe that the state should be limited because it restricts individual freedom All liberals support limited government and checks and balances. ALL liberals fear the tyranny of the majority. ALL liberals believe that the state should maximise freedom ALL Liberals believe that the state should protect and promote foundational and formal equality

Question 37

State - disagreement

Answer 37

Classical Generally distrusted democracy giving the vote to the working classes would lead to socialism and a loss of individual rights uneducated voters would vote for tyrants who would remove rights Not everyone is entitled to equal political rights Democracies are collectivist However… democracy provided consent (locke) Wishes to limit state power through codified constitutions bicameral legislatures separation of powers Belief in a night-watchman state to maximise individual (negative) freedom. Low levels of welfare laissez-faire economics / ‘invisible hand’ The state should help protect individual legal rights Modern Generally in support of liberal democracy because it: Prevents an overly powerful executive creates a separation of power creates accountability creates equality of rights (universal suffrage) demonstrates the social contract Wishes to further limit state power through devolution/ federalism proportional representation Belief in an enabling state to maximise (positive) freedom. Role of the state to provide some welfare to tackle 5 giants. Keynesian economics & mixed economy The state should help protect individual legal AND political rights

Question 38

The economy

Answer 38

ALL Liberals support capitalism and a large free market. This is because it maximises choice and individualism. Rewards the most meritocratic.

Question 39

Economy - disagreement

Answer 39

Classical laissez-faire Invisible hand Comparative advantage Adam Smith Negative freedom + egoistical individualism Little government intervention Cradle to grave welfare state Mixed economy Keynesian welfare management. Modern positive freedom + developmental individualism As little government intervention as necessary, but more than classical or neoclassical

Question 40

Thinkers

Answer 40

Classical John Locke (1632−1704) Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97) John Stuart Mill (1806−73) Modern John Rawls (1921−2002) Betty Friedan (1921−2006)