Liberalism Flashcards
social contract theory
agreement between govt and the governed on how things should work e.g constitution
if govt break the contract the ppl should overthrow it
Origins of liberalism
Liberal ideas that emerged from the enlightenment=each individual is someone with free will that each individual is the best judge of their own interest
Mechanistic theory
Mankind is rational and therefore capable of devising a state that reflects mankind’s needs - designers to rebuff notions like divine right of kinds
How does Locke argue agaisnt Hobbes
Citing the existence of natural society with ‘natural laws’ and therefore natural rights all of which preceded the state
Individualism
Vital principle of liberal ideology - the individuals needs should be at the heart of political thought, economic life and social organisation- society should prioritise the importance of diverse individual lives
Why is the right to property so important for liberals
Seen as the tangiable expression of an individual within society
What does john Stuart mill argue about individuals
Each indivual has a unique personality and perculiar talents; individuals are rational at the pursuit of self interest, are egotistical, driven by a wish to fulfil their potential and desire to be self reliant/independent
Meritocracy
Those in power are selected on merit - political power should only be excerpted by those who show themselves worthy of it
Equality of opportunity
All individuals are born equal, have equal rights, and are equal value - within the liberal state all must have equal opportunity to develop their potential and achieve control over their own lives
Economic liberalism
Another term for capitalism
Negative liberty
The notion of freedom that involves individuals being left alone to pursue their destiny - any attempt to interfere with individuals actions may be viewed an infringement of liberty
John Locke - background
Classical liberal
English philosopher and politician and shaped by civil war
Wrote: treatise of govt and a letter concerning toleration
John Locke - human nature
Upbeat view of human nature - believed it was guided by rationalism
Believed the state of nature was to be underpinned by natural rights, laws and liberties e.g right to property
John Locke - society
Asserted there was a natural society which served mankind’s interests tolerably well
John Locke - state
Laissez faire
Limited govt - the state should not interfere
‘Social contract’
Denied that the state was gods creation
John Locke - economy
Free market capitalism - no tariffs ect
Mary Wollstonecraft- background
Uk social theorist and feminist
Wrote a vindication of the rights of women
Mary Wollstonecraft - human nature
Claimed that the enlightenments optimistic view of human nature and the assumption that is was guided by reason should apply to all humans
Mary Wollstonecraft - state
Once married women had little legal protection against violence from spouse or resources for divorce
Women could not vote so blatant violation of ‘govt by consent’
Support for republican economy
Mary Wollstonecraft - society
Society infrantislised women and this stifled female individualism
Women were rarely allowed land ownership or employment
Mary Wollstonecraft - economy
A free market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women
John Stuart mill - background
Philosopher and politician who developed ideas of Locke and provided a bridge between modern liberalism and developmental liberalism
John Stuart mill - human nature
Tolerance of diverse opinions
Liberty is the engine of human development
John Stuart mill - state
Feared that the democratic state had the potential to create a tyranny of the majority
Freedom mainly involves an absence of resistance
Developmental individualism
a focus on what individuals could become rather than what they had become - Mill argued the value of education
‘Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied’- universal suffrage to be preceded by universal standard of education
Revolutionary potential
Lockes argument for govt to be consistent and driven by representatives
Negative liberty
Notion of freedom that individuals should be left alone to pursue destiny - freedom is the absence of restraint
Positive freedom
The belief that individuals left alone are often inhibited rather than free such individuals may heed enabling so that they’re free to exercise individual talents
Rawls and enabling state
Only an enlarged state could guarantee the equality of opportunity necessary for individual freedom
Examples of social liberalism
Uk- race relations and sex discriminations act
USA - JFKs equal employment opportunity commission
How is social liberalism inline with classical liberalism
Friedan cites Mill’s harm principle
Examples of modern liberalism
Lloyd George - peoples budget introduced a state pension
The beverage report
USA new deal
Obama care
Affirmative action
Keynesian economics (full employment)
Important point/typical mistakes
Don’t confuse the socialist idea of equality of outcome where wealth is redistributed - liberals only believe in equality of opportunity
Foundational equality (humans are born morally equal) and equality of opportunity can justify inequality based on the principle of meritocracy (social position and economic reward are based on talent and hard work)
Examples of liberal demands for reforms in uk
-codified constitution
-electorate reform
-more accountable HOL
-devolution
Ctisisms of modern liberalism
They’re also fine with diluting representative democracy to protect liberal values e.g HRA effectively transferred powers from parliament to unelected judges in ECHR
John Locke - human nature
Rational, guided by persuit of self interest but mindful of others concerns
Mary Wollstonecraft - human nature
Rationalism defines both genders - intellectually men and women aren’t that different
John Stuart mill - human nature
Though fundamentally rational, human nature is not fixed its forever progressing to a higher level
John Rawls - human nature
Mankind is selfish yet empathetic - valuing both individual liberty and the plight of those around them
Betty Friedan - human nature
Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self advancement amongst women
Neo liberalism
Revival of classical liberalism
Aims to halt big govt
Thatcher/regean
Replaces ‘dependency culture’
