Liberalism definitions Flashcards
Foundational equality
The belief that all human beings, no matter who they are, are born equal. This means that they have the same human or ‘natural’ rights and have the same moral worth.
Formal equality
Equal status for all members of society regardless of social background
Equal of opportunity
Ensures that all interested individuals have the same ability to access and the chance of receiving resources, such as employment, housing, or education, without discrimination based on irrelevant factors such as age, race, religion, or gender
Social contract
The obligation to obey civil government under the conditional upon the protection of the natural rights of each person, including the right to private property. Sovereigns who violated these terms could be justifiably overthrown.
Meritocracy
The notion of a political system in which economic goods or political power are vested in individual people based on ability and talent, rather than wealth, social class, or race.
Tolerance
The ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behavior that one dislikes or disagrees with
Mechanistic theory
The idea that the state was created by “man” to serve the people and act in their interests.
Limited government
The idea that there should be clear restrictions on government and its rulers in order to protect the natural rights of citizens
Harm principle
The idea that people should be free to act as they wish if their actions do not cause harm to others
Minimal state
A government whose intervention in the economy is just sufficient to sustain organized economic activity. The responsibilities of a minimal state would include provision of policing, a judiciary, and defense of the nation – also known as a nightwatchmen state
Enabling state
Those disadvantaged within society require state assistance to truly experience a life of liberty.
Negative freedom
Freedom from interference by the state
Positive freedom
Freedom by interference by the state
Keynesians
Governments should solve problems in the short run rather than wait for market forces to fix things over the long run
Laissez-faire capitalism
An economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention.