Liberalism Flashcards
Principles of Liberalism
Rational Selfish Capitalism Small state Negative rights Private property Rule of Law Individualist Individual freedom and rights
Thinkers
William Beveridge
Thomas Paine
John Locke
Adam Smith
Time William Beveridge was alive
1879 - 1963
Famous writing of William Beveridge
Beveridge Report (1942)
Contribution of William Beveridge to liberal ideology
Introduction of social liberalism
Creates groundwork for the welfare state
Time Thomas Paine was alive
1737 - 1809
Famous writing of Thomas Paine
Common Sense (1776)
Contribution of Thomas Paine
Anti-religion
Individuals born with natural right to run their own affairs
Individuals can be trusted
Time John Locke was alive
1632 - 1704
Contribution of John Locke
State is umpire
Can rebel against arbitrary state
Men are naturally born free and equal
Man has property rights
Time Adam Smith was alive
1723 - 1790
Key writing of Adam Smith
Wealth of Nations
Contribution of Adam Smith
Beleif in capitalism
Manchester School of liberalism and economics
Strands of liberalism
Libertarianism
Neo-liberalism
Progressive liberalism
Libertarianism
Extreme Complete free market Complete freedom Hayek Milton Friedman Rothbard (anarcho-capitalist)
Neo-liberalism
Authoritarian State used to enforce capitalism Strong state power Curb rights to have capitalism Margaret Thatcher
Progressive liberalism
Keynesianism
Welfarism
Try to address inequlitiyes
Focus on positibe rights
Marxist critique
Capitalist exploitation
Negative rights aren’t useful ==> need positive rights
Meritocracy doesn’t exist
Individual focus doesn’t help community ==> man is a social animal
Feminist critique
Oppression of women through capitalism but also there is structural inequality which aren’t sorted out
Conservative critique
Some people are inherently privilged
Some privileges are useful
Ecologist critique
Can’t combat climate change
Need a state to enforce climate policy
General criticisms of capitalism
CRT Critique
Can’t combat racial discrimination
General critiques
Do we kow our own interests?
There is an issue of free riders
Harm Principle
any part of a person’s conduct affects prejudicially the interests of others, society has jurisdiction over it
JS. Mill
How does the harm principle work?
State has power over you, in order to stop “harm”
Issues with the harm principle
How free should free speech be?
Unequal power relations
How does harm to the self work in the eqaution?
Stretching the healthcare system
Issue of the Free Rider
Free rider = most rational human?
Liberalism says free riders don’t have interests
Interest to help the collective?
