Liberalism Flashcards
What do modern liberals think about states role in society? Evidence?
More state interference than classical because state has responsibility to ensure individual freedom
Friedan - campaign for anitdiscrimination laws giving women equal opportunity
What do classical liberals think about state role in society? Evidence?
State has no responsibility for others
Mills harm principle - free to do as you please as long as it isn’t harming anyone else
What liberals agree on over the role of the state in society. Evidence?
It’s a necessary freedom on,t intervening to ensure rights (individual freedom) are upheld, not enfringed
Locke - state created by people with natural rights
What do classical liberals think about state role on economy? Evidence?
Free market - taxes infringe property rights
Adam smiths invisible hand - markets regulate them selves
What do modern liberals think about state role on economy ? Evidence?
More intervention,p to ensure all have jobs and are economically capable
Rawls - free markets can fail (so more intervention needed)
What do liberals agree in to do state role on economy
Same aim to maintain individual freedom, meritocracy and inevitability of inequality
Rawls - free to succeed and fail equally
What do classical liberals think about how society should facilitate individualism? Evidence.
Fundamentally egotistical and we want to develop wealth for families so society shouldn’t interfere
Mills harm principle
What do modern liberals think about how society should facilitate individualism? Evidence?
Developmental individualism, society should p,an role in things like education to allow person to flourish giving them full freedom (classics would say individuals can only create this for themselves)
Lockes state of nature
What do liberals agree on to do with individualism in society? Evidence?
Tolerance - max freedom from state and people are rational
Locke (classic) religious freedom
Friendan (modern) - gender freedom
What do classical liberals think about equality/freedom in society? Evidence?
Atomistic, equal rights due to self interest, no collective interest
Lockes social contract - uphold god given rights, property rights shouldn’t be infringed
What do modern liberals think about equality / freedom in society
Tax part of ensuring everyone is free - more intervention and economic freedom
Friedan - forms equality not enough, society needs to promote positive freedom (laws)
What liberals agree on to do with equality and freedom in society? Evidence?
Foundational equality - equality of opportunity
Wollstonecraft - jobs and powers should be open to all without discrimination
Friedan - freedom from gender discrimination
What do classical liberals think about individualism in human nature
Egotistical individualism, selfish nature, state and society should ask little
Mills harm principle
Locke playa down importance of education as nature is fixed
What do modern,iberald think about individualism in human nature? Evidence?
Developmental individualism (through means of education)
Rawls - enabling state
What do liberals agree on to do with individualism in human nature? Evidence?
Positive view, capable and rational therefore minimal state to allow for rational choices
Mills - human flourish has no bounds
Wollstonecraft extends this to women
What do classical liberals think about society/economy and human nature
Atomistic and selfish with no collective interest so society shouldn’t interfere
Lockes social contract
What do modern liberals think about society/economy and human nature? Evidence?
Rational and capable, but may need some help
Rawls - enabling state
Wollstonecraft - jobs and powers open to all without discrimination
What do liberals agree on to do with society/ economy and human nature? Evidence?
Agree on foundational equality and inevitable inequality
Rawls - people free to succeed and fail - meriyicay and equality of opportunity
What do classical liberals think about state involvement the economy? Evidence?
Free market - minimal intervention, nightwatchman state
Adam smiths invisible hand
Mills harm principle
What do modern liberals think about state intervention in the economy? Evidence?
More intervention to secure economic freedom
Rawls - free markets can fail
What do liberals agree on to with state intervention in the economy? Evidence?
Same aim of maintaining economic freedom, meritocracy and inevitability of inequality
Rawls - free to succeed and fail
What do classical liberals think about think about capitalism/ equality in the economy? Evidence?
Equality of opportunity but govt intervention infringes rights and taxes punish the rich damaging workforce and the economy
Mill - dependence on state undermines aspiration
What do modern liberals think about capitalism/ equality in the economy
Positive freedoms in the economy, state welfare help poorest (true equality of opportunity
- say the classical approach can’t be free due to inequalities of capitalism without intervention
Friendan - anti discrimination laws for women
What do liberals agree on to with equality/ capitalism in the economy? Evidence?
Capitalism provides economic freedom and meritocracy and inevitable inequality
Rawls - people free to succeed and fail equally
Wollstonecraft - once women checked political equality, free to engage in capitalist economy
