Liberalism

Question 1

What are the core principles of liberalism?

Answer 1

• Individualism, the idea that are all individuals are unique and have equal worth.
• Liberty, where individuals are are free to do what they want under the law.
• Limited government, where the role of the government is limited by checks and balances, and a separation of powers, because of the corrupting nature of power.
• Rationalism, where individuals should be free to exercise their judgement about their own interests without needing to be guided by external authorities.
• Equality, the idea that each individual should have the same chance to rise or fall in society.
• Social justice, is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges within a society.

Question 2

What are John Locke’s ideas?

Answer 2

• Society, state and government are based on a voluntary agreement or contract.
• Government should be limited and based on consent from below.

Question 3

What are Mary Wollstonecraft’s ideas?

Answer 3

• Women are rational, independent beings capable of reason.

- In order to be free, women should enjoy full civil liberties and the opportunity to pursue a career.

Question 4

What are John Stuart Mill’s ideas?

Answer 4

• Individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals.
• It is important to tolerate behaviour or ideas that are different from one’s own.

Question 5

What are John Rawls’s ideas?

Answer 5

• Society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living.
• A fair society is one in which the difference in outcomes for the richest and the poorest is kept to a minimum.

Question 6

What are Betty Friedan’s ideas?

Answer 6

• Women are as capable as men and oppressive laws and social views must be rejected.
• Women are held back from fulfilling their potential by unfair ideas about the kind of employment they can take up.

Question 7

Name some similarities between modern and classic Liberalism

Answer 7

• Both are somewhat in favour of capitalism
• Both advocate for the protection of civil liberties
• Both are in favour of a decentralisation of government

Question 8

What is negative freedom?

Answer 8

• When individuals are left alone by the state to pursue their own destiny
• A key feature of classical liberalism
• Any attempt to interfere with individual actions may therefore be judged an infringement of liberty

Question 9

What is positive freedom?

Answer 9

• Individuals should be able to control their own destiny to to develop personal talents and achieve self-fulfilment
• However, some limited state intervention is needed to make this possible
• Modern liberalism idea

Question 10

What is an enabling state?

Answer 10

• A state that enables people to fulfil their potential. The idea is to liberate individuals from restrictive social and economic problems.

Question 11

Developmental and Egotistical individualism

Answer 11

• Egotistical individualism is a classical liberal idea. This is where individuals are self interested and self reliant, they know what is best for them so a minimal state is needed.
• Developmental individualism is a modern liberalism idea. This is where individuals should develop and prosper with each other.