Liberalism Flashcards
What are the 6 core liberal ideas?
Individualism
Freedom/liberty
The state ‘a necessary evil’
Rationalism
Equality and social justice
Liberal democracy
Define rationalism
People are capable of making their own decisions. They are reasonable and logical.
What is a ‘liberal democracy’?
A democracy that balances the will of the people through elections with a limited gov and respect for civil liberties.
What type of individualism do classical liberals believe in?
Egotistical individualism: people are self seeking and self reliant
What type of individualism do modern liberals believe in?
- Developmental: minimal self interest, and individual freedom links to a desire to create a society where all can flourish.
What did John Locke say about freedom?
‘Where there is no law, there is no freedom’
What is utilitarianism?
Human action are motivated by a desire for pleasure and to avoid pain.
Who thought the utilitarian concept was too simplistic?
John Stuart Mill
Who put forward the idea of ‘negative freedom’?
John Stuart Mill
What is negative freedom?
Individuals should only be subject to external restraint when their actions potentially effect others.
What did Lord Acton say about power?
‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’’
What is constitutionalism?
A government where power is distributed and limited by laws
How do liberals believe you can keep the government limited?
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
Bill of rights
Devolution
What liberals believe in laissez-faire capitalism?
Classical
Self interest drives economic growth
Due to rationalism, what did classical liberals accept?
Competition between individuals. It will produce conflicts but they favour the use of reasoned debate to resolve issues.
What do modern liberals believe would prevent conflict between groups and people?
Industrial arbitration (a neutral 3rd party which would meditate between people. E.g. employers and trade unions in effort to avert costly legal action.)
What is liberalism based on?
- The belief in foundational equality.
- Formal equality.
- Equal voting rights.
What type of society do classical liberals support?
A meritocracy
What are four distinct features of classical liberalism?
- Revolutionary potential.
- Negative liberty.
- Minimal state.
- Laissez-faire capitalism.
What are the liberal key thinkers?
Classical:
- John Locke
- Mary Wollstonecraft
- John Stuart Mill
Modern:
- John Rawls
- Betty Friedan
What are John Locke’s ideas?
- Social Contract Theory.
- Limited government - constitutionalism, separation of powers.
- Gov should protect property rights.
- Tolerance to some..
- State of nature. (people had ‘Natural Laws’, ‘Natural Rights’, ‘Natural Liberties’) - Innate rights.
What are Mary Wollstonecrafts ideas?
- Women are rational.
- Formal equality.
- Society free from discrimination.
- Education would enable potential.
- Equality of opportunity (right for women to choose).
What are John Stuart Mill’s ideas?
- Harm principle.
- Degree of state intervention to prevent injustice.
- Single rate income tax, inheritance tax.
- Equality for men and women.
- Exercise tolerance for diverse opinions and the ability to express a minority view.
- Developmental individualism.
What are John Rawls’s ideas?
- Rejected utilitarianism as it didn’t take into account the range of goals/desires.
- All entitled to certain rights and economic justice.
- Minimise difference in outcomes.
- ’Veil of ignorance’ and a low-risk strategy for those at bottom/ minimum standard of living.
- ‘Property owning democracy’ where ownership is widely distributed, and poor can be economically independent.
- State intervention to enable society (welfare) Redistribution of wealth. Human nature is empathetic.
