Liberalism Flashcards
what is the historical context of liberalism
- liberalism developed during the Enlightenment period, which was the belief that individuals should have free will
- john locke seen as the ‘father of liberalism’ began to question the relationship between the government and the people
- Locke argued for a state reflecting mankind’s needs, a representative state, as individuals are rational and capable of making decisions about how they are governed, this is called the mechanistic theory
key thinker: John locke - backround info
- classical liberal
- locke denied the fact that the state was part of gods creation
- he argued for a state with the consent of those governed
- didn’t like the monarchy ruling without considering the people’s needs
- he argued that before the current state there was a ‘state of nature’ which served mankinds interests
- he argued that the state of law(current state) should only solve disputes in society which would occur in the state of nature
Locke on human nature
humans are rational, guided by self interest but also mindful of others concerns
lockes view of the state
state must be representative, based on the consent of the governed
lockes view on society
society predates the state - there was a ‘state of nature’ with natural laws and rights
lockes view on the economy
State policy should respect the ‘natural right’ to private property and mediate effectively between individuals competing for trade and resources.
key thinker: mary wollsontecraft - background
- focused on the fact that BOTH male and females are rational and that the current state implied that woman are not rational, and were therefore denied equality
- formal equality should be for everyone, not just men
- liked french revolution - as it didnt show indifference to gender differences
- she beleived that many women didint realise that they were opressed, and argued for more education for women to achieve her feminist goals
- she disliked aristocratic rule
wollsontecraft on human nature
both genders are rational - intellectually men and woman are equal
wollstonecraft on the state
the monarchical state should be replaced by a republic that enshrines women’s
Wollsonecraft on society
society treats woman poorly and prevents female individualism
wollsonecraft on the economy
a free market economy would help liberate women
Key Thinker: John Stuart Mill - backround
- transitional liberal
- ‘harm principle’ - the idea that individuals that harm others should be stopped by the state - if someone were to harm another person’s freedom than they shouldn’t be tolerated by the liberal state
- developmental individuals: we all progress through our lives
- mill feared that a democratic state would create a ‘tyranny of the majority’
mills view on human nature
though fundamentally rational, human nature isn’t fixed and is forever progressing - developmental individualism
mill on the state
The state should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights.
mill on society
Individuality should coexist with tolerance and self improvement
mill on the economy
Laissez-faire capitalism was vital to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative.
what is laissez faire economics
minimal government intervention in the economy. It supports the idea that markets should operate freely, with supply and demand determining outcomes like prices, wages, and production levels.
who is John Rawls
Modern liberal
john rawls on human nature
Mankind is selfish yet empathetic, valuing both individual liberty and the sorry condition of those around them.
john rawls on the state
the state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance via public spending and public services
john rawls on society
The society most individuals would choose would be one where the condition of the poorest improved.
john rawls on the economy
laizzes faire economics should be tempered by the state to advance its poorest citizens
who was betty freidan
- liberal feminist
- wrote the feminist mystique
betty friedan on human nature
Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self-advancement among women.
betty friedan on the state
The state should legislate to prevent continued discrimination against female individuals.
betty friedan on society
Society remained sexist towards women, though women were complicit in their repression.
betty friedan on the economy
Free-market capitalism could be an ally of female emancipation, if allied to legislation precluding sexual discrimination.
tensions within liberalism - human nature
- classical liberals like locke believe that individuals are blessed with being rational
- modern liberals such as Rawls and mill argues that these qualities are potential, developmental individualism
tensions within liberalism - society
- classical liberals believe society predates the state
- modern liberals argue that in urban societies a state is needed to help the poorest and let them have free will - positive liberty
tensions within liberalism - the state
-classical liberals like Mill believe that state intervention must be minimal and has a favour for laisses-faire capitalism
-modern liberals like the idea of ‘positive freedom’, and that state intervention is needed to help the poorest
tensions within liberalism - the economy
- classical liberals argue that it is an individual’s natural right to private property - laisses faire
- whilst modern liberals like Keynesian economics - there should be some managed state to ensure full employment and help the poorest
what is Keynesian economics
Keynes believed that the government should actively manage the economy, especially during recessions, by spending money and reducing taxes to boost demand and reduce unemployment
What is Hayekian economics
Hayek argued that the economy works best when left to private individuals and businesses without government interference, believing that free markets lead to better outcomes.
differences between Keynes and Hayek
Keynes supported government intervention to fix economic problems.
Hayek believed in minimal government involvement, trusting the market to regulate itself.
