Liberalism Flashcards
What are the core liberal beliefs?
- rationalism
- freedom/liberty
- individualism
- equality
- liberal democracy
- limited state
What is rationalism?
- humans are logical
- should be gov’d by reason
- individuals make own choices
What do all liberals agree about for rationalism?
- human nature is rational
-state based on rational - confidence in human rationality to progress as society
What do liberals disagree about for rationalism?
- modern= state should intervene
- classic= laissez faire state
(negative/positive freedom)
What is individualism?
- preserve ind. rights/freedom
- free from state interference
How do liberals agree on individualism?
- preserve rights and freedom of ind.
How do liberals disagree over individualism?
- classical: underplays inequality of society
-modern: ind. not naturally equal
What is freedom/liberty?
- natural rights that the gov should protect through laws
How do liberals agree on freedom/liberty?
- freedom is a natural right and should be protected
- law and liberty linked
How do liberals disagree on freedom/liberty?
modern: more involved state in protecting rights
classic: less state involved
What is the liberal view of the state?
- gov should serve the people and protect liberties
What do liberals agree on the state?
- limited power
- based on rational not tradition
- ‘necessary evil’
What do liberals disagree about state?
-modern: enabling, not direct but creates condition for people to help themselves
-classic: minimal state to not compromise freedom
What do liberals believe about equality?
- foundational equality
- equal rights/social justice
What do liberals agree about on equality?
- formal equality (all entitled)
- foundational
What do liberals disagree about on equality?
modern: foundational is not enough for justice
classic: minimal state due to foundational
What is liberal democracy?
- representative demo.
- idea of social contract
- constitutionalism
What do liberal agree about on liberal democracy?
- social contract=legitimate
- ind. rational and active citizens
- politically equal
What do liberals disagree about on liberal democracy?
- public interest and common good classics disagree due to atomistic view rather than collective
What are the liberal key thinkers?
- Locke
- Mill
- Wollstonecraft
- Rawls
- Friedan
What are the key thinkers views on human nature?
-Locke: self-interest
-W: men + women rational
-Mill: rational but could progress further
-Rawls: individualistic but sympathetic to less fortune
-F: patriarchy discrims women
What are the key thinkers views on the state?
-Locke: social contract
-W: state for women rights over monarchy
-Mill: representative state
-Rawls: enabling helps ind.
-F: state prevent discrim against women
What are the key thinkers views on society?
-Locke: natural laws
-W: stopped female ind.
-Mill: individuality
- Rawls: rational, ‘veil of ignorance’
-Friedan: patriarchy needs reforming
What do the key thinkers (Locke, Wollstonecraft and Mill) believe about the economy?
-Locke: private property is natural right
-W: women would enhance economy
-Mill: laissez-faire capitalism promote ind.
