Liberalism II

Question 1

2

Modern Liberalism

Answer 1

• Developed alongside the spread of modern democracy
• Key to positive liberty - emphasised the reality of life that simply having the ability to in theory do something, did not mean that existed in reality - the difference between freedom from and freedom to

Question 2

2

Positive examples

Answer 2

• Right to education
• Right to healthcare

Question 3

Veil of ignorance

Answer 3

If you created a society, and didn’t know how you’d end up in that society, you’d be under the veil of ignorance - under this concept, you’d want everyone to have a fair standard of living

Question 4

Enabling state

Answer 4

A state that extended it’s activities to ‘liberate’ individuals from restrictive social and economic problems, thus ‘enabling’ them to fulfil their position - actively against negative liberty

Question 5

2

Liberal democracy constitutional reform

Answer 5

• Demands reform such as a codified constitution, electoral reform, devolution of power
• Links to liberalism - ‘if the state is to be enlarged, it must be improved’ ‘government by consent’ - protects natural rights from an overpowerful gov

Question 6

2 with EG

Social liberalism

Answer 6

An updated version of the historic liberal belief in tolerance - legislation that may criminalise actions that discriminate against individuals on the grounds of sexual orientation, disability and religious persuasion

EG Equality Act 2010

Links to liberalism - citing Mill’s harm principle, Friedan claimed that laws criminalising sexual discrimination were designed to prevent female individuals having their freedoms ‘harmed’ by others

Question 7

3

How Friedan viewed equality

Answer 7

• A woman today has been made to feel guily for not being satisfied as a home maker, need the freedom to think, to be
• Women need to find satisfying work with their fine education - equality of opportunity, equal to men - natural rights men have are not equal to women
• ‘The problem that has no name’

Question 8

Areas of agreement between Classical and Modern liberals - the state

Answer 8

All liberals believe the state should function according to prearranged rules and procedures, with power fragmented and authoruty subject to the consent of the governed

Question 9

Areas of agreement between Classical and Modern liberals - the economy

Answer 9

All liberals believe that the economy should be based on private property and private enterprise

Question 10

Areas of agreement between Classical and Modern liberals - human nature

Answer 10

All liberals believe that individuals are generally rational, intelligent, and keen to prioritise individual happiness and fulfillment

Question 11

Areas of agreement between Classical and Modern liberals - society

Answer 11

All liberals see society as a collection of diverse and potentially autonomous individuals, seeking self determination, self realisation and self-fulfillment

Question 12

3

Areas of disagreement between Classical and Modern liberals - the state

Answer 12

Liberals vary on the extent of state activity

Classic liberals like Mill, in accordance with negative liberty believe that state intervention should be minimal and individuals left unchecked (unless they hamper the freedom of others)

Modern liberals like Friedan, in accordance with positive liberty believe state intervention should be extensive to enable individuals to reach their full potential

Question 13

2

Areas of disagreement between Classical and Modern liberals - the economy

Answer 13

Classic liberals support the laissez-faire attitude to the economy

Modern liberals have more sympathy for the view of John Maynard Keyes - that capitalism requires regular state management to ensure full employment - ‘managed’ capitalism means they support intergovernmental organisations like the EU

Question 14

3

Areas of disagreement between Classical and Modern liberals - human nature

Answer 14

Developmental individualism v Egotistical individualism

Classical liberals believe that individuals are innately blesse with these qualities

Modern liberals like Mill and Rawls tend to think that such qualities are potential features of human nature, to be developed by enlightened liberal authorities - Friedan ‘enabling state’

Question 15

2

Areas of disagreement between Classical and Modern liberals - society

Answer 15

Classic liberals believe that human society predates the state, whilst modern liberals like Rawls believe that industrialised and urban societies are those where individuals are less autonomous and therefore require the state