liberalism

Question 1

where did liberalism originate from

Answer 1

the reformation- a religious movement, decreased influence of the church
the enlightenment- religion was no longer the only thing underpinning society

Question 2

what theory did John Locke champion

what did this oppose?

Answer 2

mechanistic theory- human beings are intelligent and are able to create a political system for themselves and by themselves which was based on reason

the monarchy- monarchs were previously unassailable due to the divine right of kings

Question 3

what is the divine right of kings

Answer 3

the idea that god has given them power as he has chosen them to be monarchs

Question 4

list 4 liberal fundamental concepts

Answer 4

1) humans are rational beings able to make decisions for themselves
2) people should have the freedom to make their own decisions absent from government control
3) freedoms such as property and of speech
4) government has a limited role- only where necessary, eg national defence

Question 5

what are 3 of the features of a liberal democracy

Answer 5

1) a constitution which guarantees freedoms (like US)
2) All individuals have equal political rights through the voting system- gives government authority
3) separation of powers to prevent concentration

Question 6

define egotistical individualism

Answer 6

the belief that humans are driven by self interests and the pursuit of happiness without conflict

Question 7

explain liberal views on human nature

Answer 7

• optimistic
• naturally self serving and self seeking
• egotistical individualism
• dont believe life is planned out by god, the individual can work towards their goal and plan their own life
• rational beings that can act in their own self interest seeking pleasure and avoiding pain

Question 8

explain liberal views on society

Answer 8

locke- natural society with natural rights and laws, whom main purpose is to facilitate individualism allowing people to flourish and seek freedom
- property is key- allows individuals to develop their potential, providing opportunities for civilised communities

Question 9

explain liberal views on the state

Answer 9

• needed to prevent clashes between individuals pursuing their own egocentric agendas (like a referee)
• rejects traditional state of monarchy, absolutist and arbitrary rule
• power must be dispersed to prevent too much concentrated power
• ‘government by consent’ Jean Jaques Rousseau- also known as the social contract- govt is only effective when it has proper mandate
• John stuart mill- the state should tolerate everything unless it violates the harm principle
• aristocracy has place in the state

Question 10

what is the harm principle

Answer 10

the idea that so long as no one is getting hurt u can do what u like

Question 11

what do liberals disagree with in the makeup of the parliament

Answer 11

hereditary peers in the house of lords as they are unelected aristocracy

Question 12

describe equality of opportunity

Answer 12

all individuals are born equal and have equal rights and are of equal values so must have equal opportunities to develop their potential, if an individual fails it is their own responsibility and not the state

Question 13

summarise the liberal state in three points

Answer 13

1) limited govt
2) separation of powers
3) formal equality

Question 14

explain liberal views of the economy

Answer 14

• support for capitalism comes from liberals love of private property which sits at the heart of capitalism
• Adam smith promoted free market economics which he beliveved would increase prosperity and reduce poverty
• Adam smith also said capitalism would allow wealth to trickle down to everyone- some view this as naive

Question 15

early classical liberals:

revolutionary potential

Answer 15

locke argued the state should be driven by representatives of the people rather than masters
idea associated with the English civil war

Question 16

early classical liberals:

negative liberty

Answer 16

negative liberty- freedom as an absence from restraint

individuals are naturally free unless something puts a break on this

Question 17

early classical liberals:

minimal state

Answer 17

govt should be limited in how much power it has to exercise

Thomas Jefferson “the government which governs best is the government which govern the least”

Question 18

what did Thomas Jefferson say about state and liberty

Answer 18

“the government which governs best is the government which governs least… when government grows our liberty withers”

Question 19

early classical liberals:

laissez faire capitalism

Answer 19

represents liberal approach to the markets economy as expressed by Adam smith- end tariffs and duties

Question 20

what are the four things that early classical liberals favour

Answer 20

minimal state
negative liberty
revolutionary potential
laissez faire capitalism

Question 21

where did later classical liberals emerge from

Answer 21

built on early liberalism but responded to the industrial revolution amongst other events

Question 22

explain the later classical liberal concept of tyranny of the majority

what’s an issue with this

Answer 22

Jeremy Bentham said people seek to maximise pleasure and minimise pain, consequently the state needed to make decisions for the greatest good for the greatest number of people (issue= some people are unaccounted for)

Question 23

what did Samuel smiles say about the state

Answer 23

if self help was overturned by state help, their liberty would be damaged

Question 24

what did the slightly radical Herbert Spencer say which conflicted Samuel smiles

Answer 24

he said ALL individuals can rise to the challenge of self help, and the feeble feckless and failing jeopardise this for other capable people, he tried to apply principles of natural selection to these feeble people

Question 25

how did mill update lockes idea of representative democracy

Answer 25

updated it to representative democracy- they would not just make decisions on what’s best for majority, but try to aggregate various opinions and do what’s best for the country

Question 26

what was mills argument fro universal education

criticise this

Answer 26

to provide everyone with equal opportunities

universal education however would require enormous state intervention which goes against classical liberalism

Question 27

what did new liberals think about social justice

Answer 27

argued social justice as well as legal justice was necessary to allow individuals to achieve their potential, this created a new idea: positive freedom- helping others to help themselves

Question 28

explain what John Rawls meant by the enlarged and enabled state

Answer 28

work to ensure that less fortunate individuals have the chance to flourish
can be done through public spending

Question 29

why do new liberals want constitutional reform

Answer 29

change to codified constitution- to guarantee freedoms

HoL reform- stop aristocracy in power

Question 30

what do social liberals want

Answer 30

greater racial and sexual tolerance, can be done through affirmative action programs and sex discrimination act (which Betty Frieda’s said ensures women liberty)

Question 31

what did Neo liberals want

Answer 31

to revert to classical liberal ways, reduce public spending, limit govt and negative freedom to replace the dependency culture with enterprising individualism

Question 32

what does liberalism look like today around the world

Answer 32

• greater rights for minorities
• greater focus on the individual (west)
• element of constitutional reform (coalition govt)

however terrorism has meant in immense restrictions in rights in terms of extra surveillance and monitoring people more, also politicians such as trump and Brexit has limited peoples freedom of travel, issues of immigration etc

Question 33

explain key thinker John Locke’s views on core ideas

Answer 33

human nature:
-rational beings guided by self interest

the state:
-govt must be representative, servants not masters

the society:
-natural society with natural rights and laws

the economy:
-state should protect right to private property

Question 34

explain key thinker Mary Wollstonecraft views on core ideas

Answer 34

human nature:
-intellectually men and women are not different so should not be treated as so

the state:
-the monarchy state should be replaced with a representative one to guarantee women rights further

the society:
-represses women giving them limited choices

the economy:
-would benefit women if it allowed them an active role

Question 35

explain key thinker John Stuart Mills views on core ideas

Answer 35

human nature:
-not fixed, can improve and progress by being fully educated

the state:
-should be representative and democratic but protect minority groups (tyranny of majority)

the society:
-should allow everyone to be fully individual

the economy:
-laissez faire capitalism essential to progress society

Question 36

explain key thinker John Rawls views on core ideas

Answer 36

human nature:
-mankind is selfish but empathetic

the state:
-must be enlarged and enabling to help lower classes- public spending

the society:
-must work to improve the lives of the poor and uneducated

the economy:
-state must interfere if free market capitalism is repressing groups

Question 37

explain key thinker Betty friedans views on core ideas

Answer 37

human nature:
-forward moving and progressive

the state:
-should step in when women being repressed (through legislation eg sex discrimination act)

the society:
-society needs reeducating about gender roles

the economy:
-free market capitalism can only help women as long as there is legislation to prevent discrimination.