liberalism Flashcards
where did liberalism originate from
the reformation- a religious movement, decreased influence of the church
the enlightenment- religion was no longer the only thing underpinning society
what theory did John Locke champion
what did this oppose?
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
what is the divine right of kings
the idea that god has given them power as he has chosen them to be monarchs
list 4 liberal fundamental concepts
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
what are 3 of the features of a liberal democracy
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
define egotistical individualism
the belief that humans are driven by self interests and the pursuit of happiness without conflict
explain liberal views on human nature
- 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
explain liberal views on society
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
explain liberal views on the state
- 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
what is the harm principle
the idea that so long as no one is getting hurt u can do what u like
what do liberals disagree with in the makeup of the parliament
hereditary peers in the house of lords as they are unelected aristocracy
describe equality of opportunity
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
summarise the liberal state in three points
1) limited govt
2) separation of powers
3) formal equality
explain liberal views of the economy
- 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
early classical liberals:
revolutionary potential
locke argued the state should be driven by representatives of the people rather than masters
idea associated with the English civil war
early classical liberals:
negative liberty
negative liberty- freedom as an absence from restraint
individuals are naturally free unless something puts a break on this
early classical liberals:
minimal state
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”
what did Thomas Jefferson say about state and liberty
“the government which governs best is the government which governs least… when government grows our liberty withers”
early classical liberals:
laissez faire capitalism
represents liberal approach to the markets economy as expressed by Adam smith- end tariffs and duties
what are the four things that early classical liberals favour
minimal state
negative liberty
revolutionary potential
laissez faire capitalism
where did later classical liberals emerge from
built on early liberalism but responded to the industrial revolution amongst other events
explain the later classical liberal concept of tyranny of the majority
what’s an issue with this
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)
what did Samuel smiles say about the state
if self help was overturned by state help, their liberty would be damaged
what did the slightly radical Herbert Spencer say which conflicted Samuel smiles
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
how did mill update lockes idea of representative democracy
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
what was mills argument fro universal education
criticise this
to provide everyone with equal opportunities
universal education however would require enormous state intervention which goes against classical liberalism
what did new liberals think about social justice
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
explain what John Rawls meant by the enlarged and enabled state
work to ensure that less fortunate individuals have the chance to flourish
can be done through public spending
why do new liberals want constitutional reform
change to codified constitution- to guarantee freedoms
HoL reform- stop aristocracy in power
what do social liberals want
greater racial and sexual tolerance, can be done through affirmative action programs and sex discrimination act (which Betty Frieda’s said ensures women liberty)
what did Neo liberals want
to revert to classical liberal ways, reduce public spending, limit govt and negative freedom to replace the dependency culture with enterprising individualism
what does liberalism look like today around the world
- 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
explain key thinker John Locke’s views on core ideas
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
explain key thinker Mary Wollstonecraft views on core ideas
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
explain key thinker John Stuart Mills views on core ideas
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
explain key thinker John Rawls views on core ideas
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
explain key thinker Betty friedans views on core ideas
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.
