Liberalism Flashcards
when did liberalism develop
developed as a major political ideology in 19th century
where do the roots of liberalism stem from
stem from the enlightenment age of 16th-18th century
Europe was dominated by what system
the feudal system
what is the feudal system
is a system of government which is based upon a strict hierarchy of class
the monarchy was able to rule with absolute power through the “divine right of kings”
what is “divine right of kings” an example of
absolutism
what challenges did feudalism face in 17th century
the rise of trade and merchant class challenged the the privileges of aristocracy as the wealth of the new middle class rose
this new class of people often sought the collapse of feudal systems through revolutionary means
what are the core values of liberalism
individualism-the primacy of the individual over society
freedom-the right to make choices in your own interest
rationalism-the belief that humans make choices based on reason
social justice-the belief that all individuals are of equal value
liberal democracy and the state- the belief that the will of the people via election should be direct the government with protection of civil liberties the main goal of the state
what did Kant propose
that all individuals are unique and thus have equal worth. people should be treated as “means to an end” to satisfy a demand
how does Kant compare a person to a thing
a person unlike a thing has a capacity to construct laws and follow them
how does Kant suggest a person has dignity
they have dignity if they obey no law except what he enacts himself, capacity of having autonomous rational thinking means that they have dignity
would Kant support someone being forced to rescue a life
no as he would believe it violates your dignity as a rational being
what do classical liberals believe
they view individuals as self serving and self seeking
people will work to their own agenda over and above the needs of society
they emphasise a minimum state intervention
known as egotistical individualism
what do social liberals believe
these play down the importance of self seeking
people will work not only to their own agenda but also contribute to a society for all to flourish
these support greater state intervention to level the playing field for the poor
developmental individualism
who is John Locke
key early liberal who defined the role of the state maintaining liberty he believed that no power should exist without law. this law must consented by the people who are subject to it
who is John Stuart mill
one of the biggest contributors to liberalism. he disagreed that humans make decisions that are self serving. instead people also make decisions for the better of society. he argued for limited role of government using the harm principle
what is self regarding
actions that only affect the individual
what is other regarding
actions that affect others
what is negative freedom
the absence of obstacles, barriers or constraints.
what is positive freedom
the possibility of acting r in fact of acting in such a way as to take control of one’s life and realise one’s fundamental purposes
what are some political policies that could be considered negative freedom
free market economy or laissez-faire economics allowing states to make laws- capitalism
what are some political policies that could be considered positive freedom
increased state intervention and nationalised industries
what is rationalism
is the belief that people are able to reason and thus define their own interest
it also emphasis on the improvement of knowledge and human endeavour over time
