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Political Ideologies A2 > Liberalism > Flashcards

Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

What are the core tenets of Liberalism?

A
  • Individualism
  • Liberty
  • Rationality
  • Justice/Equality
  • Toleration
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2
Q

What is the definition of Individualism?

A

The belief in the suprem importance of the individual over any social group or collective body

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3
Q

What are the 4 kinds of individualism?

A
  • Methodological Individualism
  • Ethical Individualism
  • Egoistic Individualism
  • Developmental Individualism
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4
Q

What does methodological individualism suggest?

A
  • The individual is central to any political theory or social explanation.
  • All statements about society should be made in terms of individuals who compose it.
  • It is descriptive
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5
Q

What does ethical individualism suggest?

A
  • Society SHOULD be constructed to benefit the individual and their rights/needs/interests
  • It is normative
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6
Q

What is egoistic individualism and who subscribes to it?

A
  • Classical liberals

- You should look after yourself and satisfy your own interests only

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7
Q

What kind of economic system goes hand in hand with egoistic individualism

A

free market economics

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8
Q

What are the political implications of egoistic individualism?

A

State is viewed as a necessary evil and must be minimised to only protect individual rights but nothing more to prevent corruption

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9
Q

What is developmental individualism and who subscribes to it?

A
  • Modern Liberals

- Individual development and flourishing is more important than personal interest satisfaction

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10
Q

What kind of economic system goes with developmental individualism?

A

Mixed economy with a welfare state

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11
Q

What are the political implications of developmental liberalism?

A

More government intervention is legitimate as long as it acts to remove obstacles to individual flourishing hisself (e.g. education, health)

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12
Q

What do Classical Liberals think about the Developmental Individualist view on the government

A

Government intervention is illegitimate even if it helps overcome obstacles to development because it will necessarily restrict liberty elsewhere to do so.

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13
Q

What is the general definition of ‘Freedom’?

A

The ability to think or act as one wishes

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14
Q

What is Positive Freedom?

A

The Freedom TO DO anything you choose, due to the development of human capacities

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15
Q

What is Negative Freedom?

A

Freedom FROM external restraints (e.g. imprisonment or tax). (Fits well with minimal state, and egoistic individualism)

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16
Q

What kind of freedom do Classical Liberals believe in?

A

Negative Freedom

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17
Q

What kind of freedom do Modern Liberals believe in?

A

Positive Freedom

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18
Q

What is the general rule about the limitations of liberty for a liberal?

A

Freedom extends in every circumstance except those in which you inhibit other’s ‘3 Natural Rights’ (e.g. stealing, killing, kidnapping, etc.)

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19
Q

What are John Locke’s 3 Natural Rights?

A

Life, Liberty, Property

20
Q

What did J.S. Mill think about the limits of freedom?

A
  • Total Freedom in Self Regarding Acts (even drugs)

- Limited freedom in other regarding acts, so no harm can be caused

21
Q

What are the limitations of J.S. Mill’s view on the limits of freedom?

A
  • How do you quantify harm? Physical vs Psych?

- How can you be sure it won’t cause harm?

22
Q

Explain the Liberal belief in Rationality/Reason

A
  • Open Debate and Discussion is important to resolve conflict
  • Leads to progress because cumulative growth of human understanding
23
Q

What kinds of Equality do Liberals believe in?

A
  • Foundational Equality
  • Formal Equality
  • Equality of Opportunity
24
Q

What is Foundational Equality?

A

All lives have equivalent moral worth and people have natural rights (Locke)

25
Q

What is Formal Equality?

A

Equality in the eyes of the law in formal processes

26
Q

What is Equality of Opportunity

A

Everyone gets the same opportunity to be successful so inequality exists due to differences in talent/effort between individuals

27
Q

What is a Modern Liberal take on Equality of Opportunity?

A

Government intervention is necessary to provide it; illness, ignorance, etc. are obstacles to it so must be solved

28
Q

What is a Classical Liberal take on Equality of Opportunity?

A

Everyone already has equality of opportunity

29
Q

Explain the Liberal Belief in Tolerance?

A

Flows from belief in Freedom. Not everyone’s free choices will be the same so you need to be okay with that in order to preserve everyone’s freedom

30
Q

What does J.S. Mill think about Toleration?

A

It is important to provide a diversity of ideas to debate about, for the progress of society

31
Q

What is the paradox of Liberal Tolerance?

A

Should intolerance be tolerated or banned?

32
Q

What is the liberal opinion about the power of the State?

A

A sovereign state is necessary evil to protect individual freedom from encroachment on Locke’s 3 Natural Rights by others

33
Q

What is the Social Contract Theory?

A

It’s in a persons self interest to give away SOME freedom to a state in order to protect their overall freedom from encroachment by others

34
Q

What is the problem of the Social Contract Theory?

A
  • the ‘State of Nature’ is flawed and inaccurate

- Government is made up of individuals who may abuse power for their own interest

35
Q

What might be a solution to the problem of the Social Contract Theory?

A
  • Danger of Govt. Can be circumvented by sovereign constitution
  • Separation of Powers
36
Q

What are the reasons for Liberals to Accept Democracy?

A
  • Voting to Consent to Government
  • Consent to taxation
  • protection allows flourishing
  • Both based on Tolerance
  • Democracy is corollary of formal equality
37
Q

Why is voting a reason for Liberals to accept democracy?

A

-Allows them to consent to government and protect from encroachment by tyrannical government

38
Q

What are the reasons Liberals may Reject Democracy?

A
  • Can hinder liberty
  • Not based on Individuals
  • Inequality of Political Education
  • Potential for Demagoguery
39
Q

How can Democracy Hinder Liberty and why would Liberals reject democracy because of it?

A

Tyranny of the Majority undermines the rights and liberties of the minority

40
Q

How is the fact that democracy is not based on individuals a reason for Liberals to reject Democracy?

A

Liberal Tenet of Individualism; politics should be centred around the individual

41
Q

Why is unequal political education a reason for Liberals to reject Democracy?

A

Uneducated people are given power to restrict liberties of others

42
Q

Why is demagoguery a reason for liberals to reject democracy?

A

Potential for individuals to manipulate the basic instincts of the masses in order to get power and be corrupt/tyrannical

43
Q

What are the core features of a Liberal Democracy?

A
  • Consitutional Govermnent with formal laws
  • Civil Liberties/Rights
  • Institutional Fragmentation/Checks and Balances
  • Regular Elections, Uni Suffrage, 1 person 1 vote.
  • Political Pluralism
  • Govt. Independent Civil Society
  • Capitalist economy
44
Q

What are the links between Liberalism and Liberal Democracy?

A
  • Allows for accountable and limited authority to protect individual liberty from eachother
  • Constitutional Government limits its own powers
45
Q

What are the strengths of Liberal Democracy?

A
  • Democratic Peace Thesis
  • History of Success
  • Delivers Material Prosperity
  • Delivers Political Authority and Individual Freedom
  • Stable; mechanisms to secure consent so no revolutions
46
Q

What are the criticisms of Liberal Democracy?

A
  • Can swap out elites to rule, but not challenge elite rule
  • Marxists think capitalism can’t be democratic because its inherently unequal
  • Radical Democrats dislike it because of not enough direct democracy
47
Q

What similarities are there between Modern and Classical Liberals?

A
  • Both agree with Tolerance
  • Both agree with Rationality
  • Both agree with limiting Govt. with constitutionalism
  • Both agree with individual freedom

Political Ideologies A2 (6 decks)

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