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A-level UK Politics > Liberalism > Flashcards

Liberalism Flashcards

1
Q

What is classical liberalism typically associated with? [1]

A

The Enlightenment of the 18th century when rationalistic ideas of science challenged traditional religious order and divinely ordained monarchical government

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2
Q

What are the 5 main ideas of classical liberalism? [5]

A
  1. Government by consent
  2. Guarantee of individual freedom
  3. Representative democracy
  4. Limited role of the state in economy and society
  5. Individuals are born with natural rights
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3
Q

What type of liberty do Classical liberals believe in?

A

Negative liberty: ‘freedom from’ individuals aren’t prevented from doing things

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4
Q

In John Locke’s biography what job did he have which is likely to influence his ideology?

A

Locke was secretary of the Board of Trade and Plantations

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5
Q

In the state of nature, according to Locke, what are humans able to do?

A

Humans are able to rule themselves, but the state is a necessary evil as it is more convenient than self rule w//o an arbiter

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6
Q

What in Locke’s state of nature leads to his belief that the state should be limited?

A

That humans are capable of self-rule. This also explains the removal of the divine right of kings as it is not wholly necessary and so cannot have been ordained by God

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7
Q

Locke on human nature? [2]

A
  1. Humans have natural right to ‘life, liberty and property’

2. All humans have capacity for reason and sense of morality

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8
Q

What does Locke view political power as conditioned to?

A

Locke views political power as conditioned to its fulfilment of the preservation of life, liberty and property

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9
Q

What does Locke say about a social contract?

A

Locke says that a government which does not fulfil its function can be dismissed. He indicates the right of rebellion

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10
Q

Why are we able to rule ourselves in the state of nature?

A

We are able to rule ourselves and maintain justice because we are aware of our natural right to life, liberty, and property

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11
Q

Where do politicians derive their power from, according to Locke?

A

Politicians derive their power from the people, which is called popular sovereignty

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12
Q

Why is government inherently oppressive, w. reference to the state of nature, according to Locke?

A

If there are no rules in the state of nature, then if the gov. gives us a choice we inherently cannot exercise this choice fully

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13
Q

What does Locke say about tolerance?

A

Locke says that we should be tolerant of other religions and political views.

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14
Q

How does Locke justify the separation of the church and government?

A

Locke justifies this through the theory of limited government

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15
Q

For Locke, what does ‘property’ refer to?

A

Property for Locke, refers to anything related to our ‘worldly’ or temporal life

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16
Q

What is God’s wish, with regards to property, according to Locke?

A

God’s wish that we exploit land in the most efficient manner possible

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17
Q

What is Locke’s Labour theory of property (or value)?

A

The fruits of someone’s labour is rightfully theirs

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18
Q

What are Locke’s 3 conditions fo private property?

A
  1. Acquired by labour
  2. ‘Enough and as good’ left for others
  3. What we take is used and not wasted, Locke thinks money is great as it doesn’t waste
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19
Q

How does Locke justify the imposition of a feudal system in the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina?

A

Locke argues that the natives are inefficient at working their land

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20
Q

What is Locke’s law of nature?

A

Locke’s law of nature is that; where possible, you should help those who are in need as much as you can

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21
Q

Events in Wollstonecraft’s life which push her towards a more feminist stance

A
  1. Independent at 19 w. an abusive father
  2. Job opportunities reduced for women, opened a school
  3. 1792 ‘A Vindication of the rights of women’
  4. She prefers reason to tradition, influenced by Rousseau’s work
  5. liberal lifestyle w. first child out of wedlock
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22
Q

What is God’s project, according to Wollstonecraft?

A

God’s project is happiness.

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23
Q

Wollstonecraft’s view of human nature

A

Positive view of human nature, viewing men and women as equally rational. Everyone born equal and fundamentally free

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24
Q

How did Wollstonecraft view human nature?

A

She viewed it as progressive; we change as we learn

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25
What, for Wollstonecraft, allows us to gain knowledge from our passions?
Experience allows us to gain knowledge from our passions
26
For Wollstonecraft, what should humans seek?
Humans should seek virtue (aka enlightenment) 'Liberty is the mother of virtue'
27
Why does Wollstonecraft say that women don't have 'universal' rights? [4]
1. Economically- sex workers 2. Legally- no independence 3. Politically- no vote 4. Socially- confinement and subjection
28
What does Wollstonecraft describe rights as?
Wollstonecraft describes rights as bi-dimensional; 1. written declaration 2. Rights of men over women
29
What does Wollstonecraft believe must be entrenched within the state?
Women's rights
30
Which ideas of Locke does Wollstonecraft support?
Wollstonecraft supports 1. formal equality | 2. social contract
31
Why does Wollstonecraft believe we live in a corrupt society?
Wollstonecraft believes we live in a corrupt society as there is a preoccupation with the superficial and superfluous. The tyranny of manners over morals
32
What, socially have we failed in, according to Wollstonecraft?
Wollstonecraft believes that we are lost in our search for virtue and knowledge. She also believes that we are unfree
33
Who does Wollstonecraft use as an example of what is wrong with society?
Burke
34
What is Wollstonecraft's proposal about education?
Wollstonecraft advocates education for all; girls and boys, rich and poor, educated together ages 5-9
35
For Wollstonecraft, what must education focus upon?
Attention to physical, moral and intellectual development
36
After early education what does Wollstonecraft propose that people should do?
Wollstonecraft proposes that people should go into formal education or learn a trade, depending on capacities and wealth
37
What does Wollstonecraft believe education should be aimed at?
Education aimed at strengthening mind and cultivating virtue
38
Education fosters what in women, according to Wollstonecraft?
'a manly spirit of independence'
39
In what sphere should there be equal rights- Wollstonecraft
In marriage to 'end slavery'
40
Wollstonecraft- what does better education lead to?
Better education leads to more productive citizens
41
What does Wollstonecraft defend with regards to jobs
Wollstonecraft defends equal access to all professions to both genders
42
For which rights does Wollstonecraft demand, and emphasise the need for equality?
Property rights
43
What two social consequences does female economic independence have, for Wollstonecraft?
1. Women marry out of love, not necessity | 2. More respect between wedded couples, reduced chance of infidelity
44
Which job might influence J.S Mill's ideology?
Mill landed a job at the EIC in 1823
45
What was Mill's main concern?
Eudaimonia- happiness or the good life
46
What two things does Mill have an acute sense of?
1. The need for inner enlightenment | 2. Social dimension of human nature
47
To Mill, what does the modern world look like?
Individual rights and liberties, but we need a good society to be happy
48
How does Mill justify his utilitarian stance?
There is no one-size-fits-all morality
49
How does Mill limit individual liberty?
With his harm principle
50
What is Mill's harm principle?
Power against an individual can only be exercised to prevent damage to others
51
According to Mill, what cannot justify intervention? [3]
1. Paternalistic reasons 2. Reasons of excellence and ideals of human perfection 3. Reasons of dislike or disgust
52
Exceptions to Mill's non-interventionist stance [4]
1. Children + immature adults 2. 'Mentally disturbed' 3. 'Backward societies' 4. Those surrounded by external enemies
53
What does Mill believe cannot be harmful specifically?
Views
54
For Mill, what is the purpose of state legislation?
To anticipate potential harm
55
What two things, typically associated with those further left, for the time, does Mill support?
1. Women's rights | 2. principles of political economy
56
What is the greatest happiness principle?
Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to promote the opposite of happiness
57
How does Mill categorise pleasures?
Mill categorises them into higher and lower pleasures. Says that sometimes we do things that don't give us immediate pleasure
58
What does Mill define happiness as?
Having moments of rapture in an existence made up of few transitory pains, predominance of the active over the passive
59
What does Mill believe is Eudaimonia or the good life?
The good life is where everyone can fulfil their own individual life plan w/o interference
60
In 'On Liberty' (1859) what balance does Mill try to illustrate must be struck?
A balance between individual (negative) liberty, and a well-functioning society where individuals interact as a means to enrich their own lives
61
Similarly to Tocqueville, what is Mill concerned about?
The 'tyranny of the majority' - in a democracy, the minority can never win which leads to the minority being oppressed
62
How should the state act, according to Mill?
The state should intervene little and infrequently to comply with the harm principle
63
Which form of economy best supports Mill's project?
Free-market capitalist economy
64
Who should be able to vote, or have a greater impact with their vote, according to Mill?
The educated or the 'enlightened'
65
As Mill becomes older how do his political views shift to the left [4]
1. Defends state intervention to protect children, including compulsory education 2. Defends basic welfare for the poor 3. Defends state supply of public goods (clean water, official stats) 4. Defends state regulation of working hours and working conditions
66
Modern liberalism believes that the state should promote equality of opportunity how?
Through education and reductions in the influence of inherited privilege
67
What do modern liberals believe state organised welfare should do?
It should help those unable to defend themselves against deprivation e.g. the unemployed, the chronically sick and the elderly
68
What style of economics do modern liberals follow?
Keynsian economics; argued against Smith's laissez-faire economics. Keynes argued that the state could secure full employment and that avoiding economic downturns was of greater importance than the loss of individual freedom caused by mass employment
69
What stance should the state take in reducing inequality in society and preventing social injustice?
Modern liberals believe that the state should take a proactive stance
70
What type of liberty do modern liberals subscribe to?
Positive liberty; 'freedom to' state interference to allow individuals to access education or healthcare etc. and be free from poverty to exercise liberty
71
Rawls on human nature [2]
1. humans are innately rational and empathetic. Which means that the veil of ignorance ensures a fair society and an enabling state 2. Humans naturally desire self-fulfilment
72
Where is Rawls' original position situated?
Behind the veil of ignorance
73
Where is society best judged from according to Rawls?
From the original position
74
What does Rawls say may still remain in society however?
Rawls says that inequalities may still remain in society
75
What is the basis of Rawls' society?
Natural rights
76
What does Rawls envisage from the state?
Rawls wants an interventionist/ enabling state that provides formal equality under the law through social/ economic equality
77
Rawls on the economy [3]
1. economic equality with a minimum level of wealth providing necessities as a result of significant wealth redistribution (tax and welfare) 2. economic inequality permitted as long as there's a base level 3. private property underpinning a free market
78
Rawls similarity with Locke and Wollstonecraft
Rawls is a contractarian, argues for contract supporting 'just' institutions--> social institutions must be designed with the aim of ensuring justice
79
What does Rawls describe justice as?
protecting 'the liberties of equal citizenship'. In a capitalist society, we need to find a way to allocate 'an unequal distribution of social and economic resources'
80
What does Rawls believe in that is similar to Locke?
Rawls believes in a meritocracy but also foundational equality and formal equality
81
What are Rawls' two principles of justice?
1. equal rights to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others 2. social and economic inequalities arranged so that a) they're to the advantage of those worst off in society, and b) positions of power are open to all which is very similar to Wollstonecraft
82
Friedan on Human Nature
1. humans are innately rational and equal 2. freedom to control your own destiny and fulfil potential 3. room for fulfilment: "who knows what women can be when they are free to be themselves"
83
Friedan on society
1. natural society with natural laws | 2. equal society w. equal opportunities for men and women
84
Friedan on the state
1. education/ intervention to allow for equality 2. protect rights of women 3. However, limited state intervention is better as it can prevent freedom of individuals/ success
85
Friedan on the economy
1. state regulation for fairpay | 2. property underpinning free markets

A-level UK Politics (1 decks)

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