Liberalism Flashcards
What were the developments of Liberalism?
Political Liberalism - 17th-18th century, Economic Liberalism - 19th century, Social Liberalism - 20th century.
What were the beliefs of Political Liberalism?
Individual rights, limited government, Rule of law.
What were the beliefs of Economic Liberalism?
Free markets, supply and demand, invisible hand, economic freedom.
What were the beliefs of Social Liberalism?
Welfare state, role of state, increased government intervention, social justice.
What are the key principles held by all liberals?
Self interested rationalism, government by consent, individual rights, limited state, separation of powers.
What is Self interested Rationalism?
Humans are essentially self seeking and self serving. Liberals hold the belief that mankind’s innate rationality helps them to avoid destructive selfishness.
What is Government by Consent?
Reject the principle of Divine right of kings, claims the state is only legitimate if those who are governed have consented to it. Government should always be the servant, not master of the people.
What are Individual rights, and why are they important to Liberals?
Individuals had natural rights enabling self realisation, self determination and individualism. It would only be rational to submit to the state if the state promoted and respected natural rights.
Why do Liberals believe in a limited state, and separation of powers?
Means one part of government can’t have too much control over your life.
What is Mill’s harm principle?
The only purpose for which power can rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.
What is an example of religion restrictions on freedom of speech?
Salaman Rushdies’ ‘The satanic verses’ was criticised by Muslim leaders for being too offensive. Copies of the book were burned in public. Rushdie went into hiding afterwards.
What is an example of Politics restrictions on freedom of speech?
1980’s-90’s - There was a ban on broadcast interviews with IRA supporters, TV could only repeat their views, not show them.
What are the problems with the harm principle?
Harm is vague as a concept. Risky behaviour by individuals could affect others indirectly, so can’t be directly applied. Modern societal issues are often as a result of the collective action of individuals.
What did Mill divide human actions into?
Self regarding and other regarding.
What are self regarding actions?
Actions which don’t infringe on others in society, should be tolerated.
What are other regarding actions?
Actions that harm freedom of others shouldn’t be tolerated. Mill recognised the difference between opinions that offend, and actions which harm.
What are the ideas of the social contract theory by John Locke, as a part of Political Liberalism?
State shouldn’t be monarchist, state should have rule of law, separation of powers, decentralisation of power, importance of individual rights. Natural rights such as tolerance.
What does classic liberalism stress the importance of?
Negative freedom - people should be left to do as they choose, and any attempt to interfere with individual actions is an infringement.
What did classic liberalism say about the state?
Locke - State is like a ‘night watchman.’ State should only intervene when necessary - and its’ powers should be restricted.
What does classic liberalism say about freedom?
Smith - Individual freedom within the market means freedom of choice. Freedom means consumers can choose which goods and services they buy.
What did Smith believe about the state?
It will always self correct.
What did Adam Smith believe about the wealth of nations?
Every individual works as hard as they can to help their own security, but helping society is a bonus of this. This is reflected in individuality of liberalism, and the belief that people will act for their own good.
What did Gladstone say about the State?
The government doing everything is negative, and doesn’t help people. Self reliance is a principle that people should carry with them. Government produces worse outcomes for individuals than they could do for themselves.
Who was the main thinker of modern liberalism?
TH Green.
What was Modern liberalism in response to?
The needs of a newly enfranchised class.
What was Modern Liberalism’s view of human nature?
More positive view, people are more responsive to a society they were immersed in.
What did Modern Liberalism believe about the State?
It gives you the means to improve your life, so you have to improve it yourself.
What did Modern Liberalism believe about the economy?
Conflict between laissez faire liberal principles. Collective action vs poor health, poverty, ignorance.
What are the different developments of New Liberalism?
Origins of classic liberalism, response to industrial revolution, response to capitalism.
What did New Liberalism focus on, as it originated from classic liberalism?
Prosperity and social progress, emphasising free markets.
What did New Liberalism focus on, as a response to the Industrial revolution?
Had to respond to poor working conditions, child labour, concentration of wealth.
What did New Liberalism focus on, as a response to capitalism?
TH Green said that the state should play an active role in promoting social justice, ensuring equal opportunity, providing welfare.
What are the different elements of New Liberalism?
Positive freedom, state intervention, social justice.
What is Positive Freedom?
Ability to achieve potential - would have the ability to be hindered by poverty.
What is State intervention?
Argued that the government had a duty to regulate markets, provide welfare.
What is Social Justice?
Addresses social inequality, labour rights, progressive taxes.
What did John Rawls say about the state?
‘Enabling state’ allows redistribution of wealth - extensive public spending, progressive tax. The conditions of the poor should be improved by the state, and the gap between poorest and richest wouldn’t necessarily be narrowed.
What did Rawls say about Society?
Rational human beings choose a society where the poorest members fared better than in present society. We can achieve better in society through reducing inequality.
What did Rawls say about Equality?
Not just formal equality under the law, but greater social and economic equality.
How was Constitutional reform a factor of Modern Liberalism?
Positive liberty and an enabling state required universal suffrage. David Lloyd George oversaw the state of enfranchisement for women. Recently, Liberals haven’t always supported direct democracy.
How was social liberalism also a factor of Modern Liberalism?
Mid 20th century - Modern Liberalism was strongly linked to increased tolerance - greater racial and sexual toleration. Supportive of affirmative action.
Which Socially liberal acts took place in the UK and the US?
USA - Equal employment opportunity commission, Roe v. wade. UK - Race relations act - 1965, 68, 76. Marriage act 2013.
How do Liberals have a coherent view of the state?
Liberals believe in a constitutional state, made after rational discussion. Government by consent - state is a contract between government and governed. Reject any state where power is concentrated.
How do Liberals not have a coherent view of the state?
Liberal state hasn’t consistently upheld foundational equality, and was slow to adopt democracy, hasn’t consistently upheld government by consent - allows wishes of a majority to be defied via checks and balances. Liberal state isn’t consistently minimal in scope.
What did Wollstonecraft believe about Society and the state?
They implied that women weren’t rational - denying them individual freedom and formal equality.
What did Wollstonecraft say about government by consent?
Women couldn’t vote for who governed them - not true government by consent.
What did Wollstonecraft say about individualism?
Fettering female individualism means limiting intelligence, wisdom and morality. Women were complicit in their subjugation, as they desired marriage and motherhood.
What did Wollstonecraft say about Men?
Men control the perception of women, because they control society. A lack of education causes women to be seen as less.
Which rights did Mill say should be given to women?
Right to vote, right to education, right to work/economic independence, right to control their own bodies, right to equal legal rights.
Why did Mill say women should be given the right to vote?
Denying women the vote was a form of social injustice. Women possess the capacity for rational thought.
Why did Mill say women should be given the right to education?
Women should have access to the same education as men - enable them to develop their intellectual abilities. Women’s education shouldn’t be limited to domestic skills.
Why did Mill say women should be given the right to work?
Ability to choose a career, equal pay for equal work. Women’s participation in the workforce helps dismantle the patriarchal system, limiting women’s autonomy.
Why did Mill say women should be given the right to control their own bodies?
Women should have the right to enter into marriage freely, and have the ability to dissolve it if they choose.
Why did Mill say women should be given the right to equal legal rights?
Legal reforms which grant women the same rights as men in all spheres, including property rights.
Why did Mill say more rights should be given to women in general?
Principle of equality, harm of patriarchy, importance of liberty, maximising happiness - utility. Development of women’s potential. Critique of traditional gender roles.
What did Betty Freidan believe about women’s experiences after WWII?
WWII saw women return to their traditional roles - regression in economic and social life.
What % of American women went to university in 1920, compared to 1950?
1920 - 47%. 1950 - 35%.
What was the average marriage age of women in 1920, compared to 1950?
1920 - 21. 1950 - 20.
What did Betty Friedan believe about education and culture?
Education leads to self actualisation, so women can find out more about themselves. Women are told through culture, that their primary role is to be a housewife, and that their lives are perfect as they are.
What were the other views of Betty Friedan?
Legal equality means equal pay, maternity leave, and access to contraception, and the state should provide these things. Education means women can improve themselves.
