Liberalism Flashcards
What is one key feature of the liberal view on human nature?
Optimism- Liberals look to the future positively, believing future is better than past
Humanity destined to progress and achieve greater happiness overcoming obstacles
People will live in peace and harmony with self awareness, mutual understanding
Ideas that mankind is deeply flawed and condemned due to imperfection are dismissed
What is another key feature of the liberal view on human nature?
Rationality- people make decisions based on reason and naturally debate, discuss, and question whatever they face
Problems are challenges awaiting a solution
What is another key feature of the liberal view on human nature?
Individuality- make your own pathway. Life is not predetermined and people make own destiny
Do not accept life as it is because of ‘will of God’ or ‘fate’
Have ability to plan and change own future, eg self help
What is another key feature of the liberal view on human nature?
Self interest- people prioritise themselves
Egotistical individualism- human beings are naturally drawn to advancement of their own interests and happiness above that of anyone else. Rationality should prevent this from leading to conflict or dismissing of others feelings
Thinkers suggest individualism would lead to rational based consensus others saw potential for conflict
Liberal state basic ideas
Locke and Hobbes- both argued that ‘state of nature’ would see individuals clash as they followed their own interests
State would act like a referee between individuals
Would also have ideas of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
Liberal state objectives
Rejection of ‘traditional state’
Against power being concentrated in hands of monarch or autocrat. Dismisses ideas of ‘divine rule’ or exercise of any power not based on reason
Should be a ‘social contract’ people will obey the law as the government upholds their rights
At first, this did not mean democracy as we now see it
Liberal state promotes
Individualism: State should not restrict rights, but protect and promote
Tolerance: All actions that do not harm the rights and freedom of others in society should be tolerated
Meritocracy: Positions of power based on merit not birth right
Equality of oppurtunity
Justice: Treat everyone fairly without bias
Liberal view on natural society and natural law
Locke- society even before a state would naturally exist
Would mean rights to life, liberty and happiness were accepted by societies without need for state to impose them
Fits with optimistic view liberals have of human nature & tyranny coming from the state
What kind of society do liberals want?
Society should allow people to control their own lives
Society should see a maximum number of people reaching their full potential and who are fulfilled
Classic liberals view on society
Support negative freedom, meaning individuals should be as free as possible without government interference
Classical liberal view on individualism
Egoistical individualism- where freedom is associated with self-interest and self-reliance
Classical liberals view on state
Should be absence of constraints on individual, meaning minimal state. Will encourage individuals to be self-reliant
Classical liberal view on state
Sees state as something which has been crated by people as way of protecting rights and order (mechanist state)
Classical liberal view on state
Minimal state- where it just lays down conditions for orderly existence, but does not get involved in peoples lives
Modern liberals view on freedom
Positive freedom- saw freedom as ability of individual to develop and realise their potential and achieve fulfilment
Modern liberals view on state
Support enabling state- state helps to protect individuals freedom as exercising a wider range of social and economic responsibilities
Modern liberals view on welfare
Support welfarism-suggest government had a responsibility to remove inequalities, as a barrier to freedom
John Locke
CLASSICAL LIBERAL
‘Father’ of liberalism
Focused on rationalism of humanity, natural rights and need for a limited government
Rejected ideas of ‘divine right’ to govern or that state was created by God
State was created by a man and should serve peoples interests with their consent
‘Natural society’ before state which was individualistic
‘Social contract’ theory
Believed in separation of government and religious tolerance
Mary Wollstonecraft
Challenges view that women are less rational than men and entitled to less power
Keys to women reaching potential were educating and have same oppurtunities and legal protections as men
Women should be able to choose career or children
Marriage should be between two equals
Supported American+ French revolutions
John Stuart MIll
Tolerance of those w/ minority view
Individualism- what people can become, not what they are
Sees need for state intervention to help poor
Favoured inheritance tax as gave unfair advantage
Believed humanity looked to improve human civilisation
Freedom to do anything that doesn’t harm others
John Rawls
Modern liberal
Called for greater social and economic equality in society
Everyone should be guaranteed a life worth living
Modernising idea of ‘social contract’ by adding socio-economic concepts
Should be good minimum standard for living, then natural rights established for all
Advocated redistribution of wealth to make society fairer
Wanted to narrow gap between rich and poor
Rejected both communism and unregulated capitalism
Betty Friedan
Feminist thinker focused on need for individuals to control their own destiny
Argued women are held back from reaching potential by beliefs about what work they can do
Pushed for anti-discrimination law
Social attitudes and socialisation lead to women being housewives, not biology
Change should be sought without violence of breaking the law
Supporting liberal view that humanity can constantly improve and faith in liberal institutions
Argued women should be able to choose between career and housewife to create level playing field
