Liberalism

Question 1

What is classical liberalism

Answer 1

a branch of liberalism that advocates for free-market and laissez-faire economics with emphaisis on individual freedom and lmited government

Question 2

What is Modern liberalism

Answer 2

it combines the ideas of civil liberty and equality with support for social justice and a mixed economy

Question 3

What are the core liberal ideas on human nature

Answer 3

humans are rational and capable of using reason and self-improvement
humans are naturally independent and act in self-inetest but are capable of being moral and cooperate

Question 4

Classic liberalism on human nature

Answer 4

more optimistic about reason and acting independently

Question 5

Modern liberalism on human nature

Answer 5

more cautious about human reason - may need support structures

Question 6

What is the core liberal view on The State

Answer 6

they believe in a limited government to protect individual freedom

Question 7

Classic liberalism on The State

Answer 7

minimal state (night-watchman style)

Question 8

Modern Liberalism on the state

Answer 8

believes in an enabling state to promote equality

Question 9

Classic liberalism on Society

Answer 9

society is a collection of individuals

Question 10

Modern Liberalism on society

Answer 10

See the importance of social welfare and support networks to enable true freedom in society

Question 11

Classic Liberalism on the economy

Answer 11

supports free-market economy, laissez-faire government and private property

Question 12

Modern Liberalism on The economy

Answer 12

supports regulated capitalism and keynesian economics to correct market failures and ensure fairness

Question 13

John Locke on Human Nature (individualism and liberty)

Answer 13

1. each person is rational, independent and morally equal
2. every person owns themself
3. individuals posses natural rights that exist independently from any authority

Question 14

John Locke on The State

Answer 14

in the state of nature humans are governed through natural law
Humans posses natural rights: Life, liberty and property
Humans trade some of their freedom for protection of these rights through the government - social contract
if government does not protect natural rights civillians have the righ to revolt
State gets it’s legitimacy from the consent of the governened
legislature should be seperate from executive

Question 15

John Locke on Society

Answer 15

Society must be volutary and built on mutal consent
society should aim at ‘common goods’ rather than private interest
‘common good’ is best achieved when individuals are independent and free
people choose to live together due to mutal protection and benefit rather than divine command or tradition
true liberty comes from being free from arbitary power and this is achieved by rule of law

Question 16

John Locke on The Economy

Answer 16

Property is a natural human right
property is created when individuals mic their labour with natural resources - labour theory of peroperty - what you work for becomes yours
Locke morally justifies capitalism as unequal wealth distribution is okay as long as no ones rights are violated
Government should protect propety not take interfere with it
state exists to enforce contracta and safeguard the conditions of a free-market

Question 17

John Stuart Mill on Human Nature

Answer 17

Harm principle - individuals should be free to act as long as they do not harm others
Individuality is a key component to human flourishing
Positive liberty- the ability to realise one’s full potential
individual development should be supported unless it harms others
freedom of speech is neccessary
should indulge in self-development through higher pleasures that have quality over quantity
humans are ‘competant judges’ who can jusgfe that higher pleasure are better

Question 18

John Stuart Mill on The State

Answer 18

Supports limited government but state intervention is sometimes neccessary to educate citizens
Democracy and education is neccessary for individuals to become rational and moral
favoured representative democracy but was wearing of the ‘tyranny of the majority’ - where public opinion suppresses human rights

Question 19

John Stuart Mill on Society

Answer 19

Harm principle
freedom of speech even if ideas are offensive because falsehoods challenge truth - keeping it vibrant
true liberty comes from seeing one’s potential
Society improves by debate and discussion
universal education is needed for a free society
advocated for eqality for women

Question 20

John Stuart Mill on the Economy

Answer 20

Advocated for free-market and private property with limits
unrestricted capitalism could lead to inequality so does not support pure laissez-faire economics
supported private property but criticised accumilated wealth so supported inheritance tax
supports progressive taxation
role of state in economy is to regulate excess and promote welfare

Question 21

John Rawls on Human Nature

Answer 21

optimistic- Humans are rational and capable of cooperation
equal liberty principle: people are entitled to basic rights and freedoms fulfilling the desire for individual autonomy
Difference principle: social and economic inequality is only acceptable if it benefits the least advanatged members of society
theory of justice - under the right conditions - humans can use their innate sense of justice and not act purely out of self-interest
‘original position’ and ‘veil of ignorance’ people can overcome personal bias to use reason correctly

Question 22

John Rawls on The State

Answer 22

Main role of the state is to uphold just/fair structure in society
it’s legitimacy comes from it’s ability tp treat all citizens equally
enabling state - providing ediucation and welfare so there is equal opportunity in society
voi and original position - state must reflect what rationbal individuals would agree to if they had no personal advantage in the system
believed in a liberal, democratic state limited by a constitution where citizens have equal political rights

Question 23

John Rawls on society

Answer 23

2 principles in the thoery of justice - equal liberties and difference principle
society should remove unfair priviledge and allow everyone a fair chance to suceed
voi + original position - poeple would rationally choose a fair society that protects liberty and supports the vunerable
society should remove barriers that restrict peoples life chances - EOO > EOO
society must be based on tolerance and respect
society must respect the consent of it’s members - links to classical social contract

Question 24

John Rawls on The Economy

Answer 24

unregulated capitalism leads to unfairness
Rawls supported a market economy with state intervention
the difference principle - inequalities in wealth are only justifiable if they advantage the least advantaged members of society e.g. high earners and owning private property is accepted if it improves conditions for the poor
government investment in public services such as education to improve equality of opportunity
in later work: supported a redistribution of wealth, giving citizens more economic independence

Question 25

Thomas Hill Green on Human Nature

Answer 25

humans are not purely self-interested Humans are rational social created who develop thorugh relationships and cooperation believed in positive freedom like Mill liberty is the ability to act according to one's conscience and moral purpose humans beings goal is self-realisation and moral development which is achieved by participating in an ethical society

Question 26

Thomas Hill green on The State

Answer 26

The state does not just protect rights - it has a moral purpose to enable individuals to achieve positive freedom and self-realisation the state is a facillitator of liberty by removing barriers believes in an enabling state to allow individuals to flourish not just be free role of the state is legitimated when it erve the moral development of all citizens

Question 27

Thomas Hill Green on Society

Answer 27

Due to his view on individuals being fundemental social beings, we are only truly free when we exist in a society that promotes moral and interlectual development society is a place of shared moral responsibility and individuals have a duty to help each other reach their full potential a good society is one where freedom is used responsibly to contribute to the well-being of others a just society must actively reduce inequality to allow disadvantaged members of society to develop

Question 28

Thomas Hill Green on The Economy

Answer 28

Economic oinequality must be adressed to allow individuals to have positive freedom believes in state action in reglating markets to promote a fair society where indivdiuals can develop the purpose of economic growth is not profit but personal and societal growth an economy should be judged with how well it promotes individual flourishing not by how much wealth it creates

Question 29

Mary Woolstonecraft on Human Nature

Answer 29

true human nature is not visible due to opression Rationality is universal, regardless of gender human nature is fixed by education and environment not biologically determined men and women must be fully educated to develop their rational minds and moral character patriarchal society has warped human nature - as societal norms enocurage women to focus on beauty rather than reason progressive view - humans arre capable of moral and interlectual development through eductaion and freedom

Question 30

Mary Woolstone craft on The state

Answer 30

the state should guarentee individuals freedom thorugh law and not leave women dependent on men the role of the state is to protect the rights and liberties of all individuals including women she argued for a constitutional government with rule of law argued for legal equality - women should have the same rights as men universal education was needed for women to become rational and independent beings believed in reform not revolution

Question 31

Mary Woolstonecraft on society

Answer 31

Society must treat all beings as rational (including women) society should be just and meritocratic and not based of inherited privlidge and gender hierarchy women should be included in the public realm of politics, education and employment a society that excludes half of it's population is niether just nor free women and men can only become morally responsible when they are granted eqal opportunities

Question 32

Mary Woolstonecraft on The Economy

Answer 32

All individuals should economically contribute to society - womens financial dependence on men is a major barrier to individual freedom she supports a free- market economy to enhance self-reliance but this must include women too she criticised the idle aristocrcy that inherited wealth whilst others struggled - supported meritocracy women must be given acess to education and employment to compete fairly within the economy

Question 33

Betty Friedan on Human nature

Answer 33

humans are rational and autonomous who must be free to make their own choices to flourish - women interlectual development and career aspirations is natural to all humans and the denial of these pursuits to women is a warped version of human nature not a reflection of it 'the problem with no name' - shows how denying people the chance to fulfil their interlectual potential is contrary to human nature

Question 34

Betty Friedan on The State

Answer 34

the state should act as a neutral arbiter to protect individual rights and ensure equal opportunities reform within the constitution needs to take place to eliminate structural barriers that disadvantage women supports state intervention and legislation like anti-discriminatory and affirmative action supported the U.S constitutional but called for it to be more fairy applied to women the state should guarantee the freedom for women to choose