Liberalism Flashcards
Foundational Equality
Rights that all humans have by virtue of being born which cannot be taken away (natural rights or inalienable rights).
Formal Equality
The idea that all individuals have the same legal and political rights in society.
Equality of Opportunity
The idea that all individuals should have equal chances in life to rise and fall.
Social Contract
The idea that the state/society is set up with agreement from the people to respect its laws which serve to protect them.
Meritocracy
A society organised on the basis of that success is based on ability and hard work.
Mechanistic Theory
The idea that the state was created by ‘man’ to serve the people and act within their interests.
Tolerance
A willingness to respect values, customs and beliefs with which one disagrees.
Limited Government
The role of government is limited by checks and balances, and a separation of powers because of the corrupting nature of power.
Egoistical Individualism
The idea that individual freedom is associated with self-interest and self-reliance.
Developmental Individualism
The idea that individual freedom is linked to human flourishing.
Negative Freedom
The absence of external constraints in society as well as no interference in the private sphere.
Positive Freedom
The idea that freedom is about personal fulfilment and realisation of potential.
Laissez-faire Capitalism
An economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for exchange and profit, and wealth is privately owned.
Keynesianism
An economic system that requires government involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve full employment and price stability.
Harm Principle
The idea that individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals.
Minimal State
The idea that the role of the state must be restricted in order to preserve individual liberty.
Enabling State
A larger state that helps individuals to achieve their potential and be free.
What was the Enlightenment?
An intellectual and cultural movement in the 18th century that emphasised reason over superstition and science over blind faith.
What is individualism?
The belief in the supremacy of the individual over any social group or collective body.
Atomism
The view that society is simply a collective of individuals, each seeking to satisfy their own needs or interests. Society itself does not exist.
Egoism
A concern for one’s own welfare or interests.
John Locke’s View on Religious Tolerance
He advocated for tolerance on the basis of 3 points:
- human beings cannot dependably evaluate the truth-claims of competing religious standpoints
- enforcing a single ‘true religion’ would never work because you cannot be compelled into belief by violence
- coercing religious uniformity leads to more social disorder
Pluralism
A belief in diversity or choice, or the theory that political power is or should be widely and evenly dispersed.
Autonomy
‘self-governance’
the ability to control one’s own destiny by virtue of enjoying independence from external influences.
What did John Locke mean by ‘where there is no law, there is no freedom’?
He believed that liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others and this cannot be without law.
Self-regarding Actions
Actions which do not impinge on the freedom of others and should be tolerated (religious worship, freedom of speech).
Other-regarding Actions
Actions which clearly do ‘harm’ and infringe the freedom of others and should not be tolerated by a liberal state (violent or riotous behaviour).
Constitutionalism
The practice of limited government brought about by the existence of a constitution which effectively constrains government institutions and political processes.
Why might liberals support a constitution?
They entrench the rights and freedoms of individuals.
What did John Locke mean by the ‘nightwatchman’ state?
The belief that the state’s role should be limited and its only function should be to protect citizens’ lives and property.
Rationalism
The practice or principle of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.
What were the 5 giants of the Beveridge report1942?
- Idleness (unemployment)
- Ignorance (lack of education)
- Disease (lack of healthcare)
- Squalor (poor living conditions)
- Want (poverty)
Why do modern liberals argue that foundational equality is not enough?
To guarantee true social justice individuals must have access to a full welfare state encompassing education, healthcare, the minimum wage and welfare provisions.
John Locke’s view on natural rights:
- men are by nature free and equal
- people have rights independent of the laws of any society (rights to life, liberty and property)
What is meant by the state being a ‘necessary evil’?
It is necessary in the sense that it lays down the conditions for orderly existence; and it is evil in that it imposes a collective will on society, thereby limiting the freedom of the individual.
John Locke key ideas:
- social contract
- natural rights
- nightwatchman state
Mary Wollstonecraft key ideas:
- all citizens should be free under the law and free from discrimination
- women should have more employment and property rights
- men and women equally rational
John Stuart Mill key ideas:
- harm principle
- self-regarding and other-regarding actions
- tolerance of diverse opinions
John Rawls key ideas:
- ‘justice as fairness’
- enabling state
- need for social and economic equality not just foundational
Betty Friedan key ideas:
- individual freedom
- believed women were restricted of opportunities
- enabling state
