Liberalism

Question 1

John Locke

Answer 1

• classical
• social contract theory - theoretical voluntary agreement
• limited govt serving people an rights
• individual freedom and limited govt
• however writing for small group of white men during his time - rights to only those
• ‘Second Treatise Of Government’ - ‘the supreme power cannot take from any men any part of his property without his own consent’

Question 2

Mary Wollstonecraft

Answer 2

• classical
• reason - women are rational and independent beings
• “the divine right of husbands, like the divine right if kings, it is hoped, in this enlightened age, be contested without danger”
• “ i do not wish for women to have power over men, but over themselves”.
• formal equality - equal rights for women and be able to have a career.
• “let women share rights and she will emulate the virtues of men, for she must grow perfect when emancipated”
• formal equality under law must chance, not only education but voting and property rights and employment rights
• freeing women and providing them with rights will also benefit economy and society

Question 3

John Stewart Mill

Answer 3

• classical
• harm principle - individuals free to do anything as long as it is no harm to any other individuals (indicated in ‘On Liberty)
• rights no matter class or gender
  Advocated for representative democracy
• tolerance - popularity of a view doesn’t make it correct - if all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind’.
• developmental individualism - need rights and ability to use them
• individuals best qualified to judge own interests rational
• limited govt

Question 4

John Rawls

Answer 4

• modern
• view of ignorance - rational individuals would create a society that safeguards least well off ensuring fair distribution of resources and opportunity it’s.
• ## enabling stature - economy equality and progressive taxation, to help poorest in society

Question 5

Betty Friedan

Answer 5

• modern
• feminist
• legal equality - equal rights for women, right to vote. She advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment in the US and Equal Pay Act 1963 as well as National Organisation for Women 1966 advocating legal and societal change
• equal opportunity and choice
• ‘The Feminine Mystique’ - ‘who knows what women can be when they are finally free to become themselves’
• ‘we need to see men and women as equal partner, but its hard to think of movies that treat women as full human beings’.
• state intervention to dismantle barriers

Question 6

Adam Smith

Answer 6

• classical
• economy
• laissez-faire free market economy
• limited state intervention = “invisible hand”
• state only intervening to maintain law and order and protect rights