Liberalism key thinkers

Question 1

John Locke background

Answer 1

• The father of liberalism
• English philosopher and political theorist who was born in 1632 in Somerset and died in 1704 in Essex
• Recognised as the founder of british empiricism and the author of the first systematic exposition and defence of political liberalism
• Locke refused the theory of divine right of kings and argued that all endowed w natural rights to life, liberty and property and rulers that fail to protect those may be removed

Question 2

John Locke Key ideas

Answer 2

• Society, state and government are based on voluntary agreement or social contract theory
• Government should be limited and based on consent from below

Question 3

John locke on human nature

Answer 3

• Human beings are rational, guided by pursuit of self interest but mindful of others concerns
• Humans priororities are their individual happiness and fulfilment and are respectful of the wishses of others to do the same
• As rational entitities - offering consnet to state individuals are promoting self interest and fully acknowlegde that our liberties are best protected via governance by the state
• Natural laws, natural liberties and natural rights

Question 4

Lockes key works

Answer 4

An essay concerning human understanding (1689) - he developed his theory of ideas and his account of the origins of human knowledge in experience
Two treatises of government (first edition published in 1690 but composed before 1683) - he defended a theory of political authority based on natural individual rights and freedoms and the consent of the governed

Question 5

John locke society

Answer 5

• Society predates the state, there were ‘natural’ societies with natural laws and natural rights

Question 6

John Locke the economy

Answer 6

• State policy should respect the ‘natural rights’ to private property and arbitrate effectively between individuals competing for trade and resources

Question 7

John Locke the State

Answer 7

• The state must be representative, based on the consent of the governed. Government have ‘fiduciary’ power
• Limited government - check&balances, frequent & fair elections, seperation of powers
• Government should protect property rights
• Citizens obey the states laws on the understanding that the state will guarantee them certain rights
• the government should also exercise tolerance in religious matters and not intefee in the area of private conscience

Question 8

Social contract theory? What does the agreement mean?

Answer 8

The social contract theory - society, state and government are based on theoretical voluntary agreement and people should accept the authority of the government as it fulfils part of the contract
If the govt breaks the contract then the governed are no longer obliged to obey the states laws

Question 9

John Locke KEY QUOTE on state

Govt protection pp

Answer 9

“The only task of the government is the protection of private property”
The quote suggest that the only primary role of the government is to safeguard individual property rights and shouldnt intervene elsewhere

Question 10

John Locke KEY QUOTE about freedom?

LAW, ABOLISH, ENLARGE FREEDOM

Answer 10

“The end of law is not to abolish or restrain but to preserve and enlarge freedom”
The quote means that regulation is not a barrier to liberty but rather a means to secure and enhance individual freedoms. Emphasizes the importance of life, property and liberty

Question 11

JL quote on law?

Tyranny

Answer 11

“Wherever law ends, tyranny begins”
This quote means Whenever the government is used to impoverish, harass or subdue the people of the commonwealth this is considered a tyranny

Question 12

Mary Wollestonecraft Background

Answer 12

• C18, Classical, foundational equality (Enlightenment view on human nature should also apply to women)
• Born 1759 in England to an abusive father and cold mother,
• after mother died she moved out with her sister and friend to live an independant life and they built a school for girls but this was closed down after Fanny died

Question 13

What was the position fo women during 18thc? MW

Answer 13

• Women were governed by their emotions and their virtues were expected to be chastity, modesty, compassion and piety.
• Women were more passive than men.
• The weak and tender woman needs to be protected by the stronger man.
• Women were expected to be primarily housewives whilst the men were wage earners.
• Women employment was low status and low paid Women had no formal rights in politics though they could exercise their rights informally.
• Single women had mostly the same rights as men but in private law women had no rights.
• Married women had no separate legal identity she was covered under her husband

Question 14

MW key ideas

Answer 14

• Women are rational, independant beings capable of reason. She challenged the notion that women were inferior to men both morally and intellectually. Womens capacity to reason was the foundation for their claims to political freedom and legal equality
• In order to be free, women should enjoy full civil liberties and the opportunity to puruse a career

Question 15

MW on human nature

Answer 15

Rationalism defines both genders: intellectually, men and women are not very different

Question 16

MW on society

Answer 16

Society infantilised women and this stifled female individualism

Question 17

MW on the state

Answer 17

The monarchical state should be replaced by a republic which enshrines women’s rights

Question 18

MW on the economy

Answer 18

A free market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women

Question 19

MW key works

Answer 19

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) - It remains a classic of political thought and is still strongly linked to feminist ideology. She criticised the french revolution that women also

Question 20

MW formal equality and what was the key to women achieving this?

Answer 20

Formal equality is the idea that all individuals have the same legal and political rights in society.
Mary wanted women to have this because they lacked legal independance when married
Education which would enable women to gain self respect and to realise their potential

Question 21

What type of liberal was MW ?

Answer 21

Mary Wollstonecraft had classical liberal views in the 18th c.
Wallstonecrafts primary claim was that the enlightenment’s optimistic view of human nature and assumption that was guided by reason should apply to all humans male and female.
Mary argued that in the 18th C both society and state implied that women were not rational and were denied individual freedom and formal equality

Question 22

MW view on marriage

Answer 22

Mary valued marriage as an institution, that marriage must be a partnership of equals and tyranny of the male over the female should be resisted in order to be good citizens

Question 23

In what ways was MW regarded as an elitist

Answer 23

Her radicalism compared the subordination of women in society to that of the male working class and her Enlightenment thinking emphasized individual rights, democratic governance, and education

Question 24

MW KEY QUOTE on the power of women

Answer 24

“I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves”
Mary meant that she wanted females to be in more charge of themselves and what they want rather than controlling men.
The quote gives women confidence to make independent decisions.

Question 25

MW KEY QUOTE

Answer 25

“Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience”
The quote suggests that educating women can break their subservice and help them become more independent and critical thinkers. The quote also suggests that powerful individuals may try to keep women in the dark to maintain control over them.

Question 26

MW KEY QUOTE on marriage

Answer 26

“slaves… in a political and civil sense”
When married men took control of every aspect of a womens life and became slaves to their husbands

Question 27

MW quote on Women

Answer 27

Women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed

Question 28

John Stuart Mill

Answer 28

• C19, Classical, utilitarianism, harm principle, developmental individualism
• Mill is considered to be one of the greatest philosophers of all time and his ideas influence both classical and modern liberalism.
• Key work on liberty. JS Mill was a British philosopher, political economist and civil servant.
• He contributed widley to social theory, political theory and polital economy “Most influential english speaking philospher of the 19th C. Mill was a proponent of utilitarianism, a member of liberal party
• Educated at a young age by his father and wasnt allowed to have association with other children.
• 1865-1868 was a member of parliament for the liberal party and second member of parliament to call for womens suffrage after henry hunt in 1832, called for various reforms of parliament

Question 29

JSM key ideas

Answer 29

• Individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals
• It is important to tolerate behaviour or ideas that are different from one owns

Question 30

JSM on human nature

Answer 30

Though fundamentally rational, human nature is not fixed, it is forever progressing to a higher level

Question 31

JSM on society

Answer 31

The best society was one where individuality co-existed with tolerance and self improvement
Self regarding actions and other regarding actions
Mill believed that advocating freedom of speech, thought and religion unless they posed a direct threat to others. Individuals should be free from inteference even if this means that they are harming themselve
Equality for all

Question 32

JSM on the state

Answer 32

The state should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights
Mill opposed popular democracy where interests of the few could be crushed - tyranny of majority and he supported representative democracy with limited government and the representatives would aggregate all the demands of individuals with society to create a broad consensus for decision making rather than strictly following the will of the majority

Question 33

JSM on the economy

Answer 33

Laissez-faire capitalism was vital to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative

Question 34

Mills harm principle

Answer 34

Mill argued for restraint by the state leaving individuals to be free to take whatever actions they judged fit provided it did not harm others. The harm principle is the ideas that the state is justified in interfering with individual freedom when it is to prevent some citizens doing harm to others

Question 35

What type of liberal was JSM

Answer 35

a “bridge” between classical liberalism and modern liberalism? Because he was in favour of inheritanc tax because the transmission of wealth across generations gave some individuals an advantage over others

Question 36

JSM KEY QUOTE

Answer 36

“Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign”
the individual is, or at least should be, self-governing in a sense that they should be able to express their own opinions and act of their own free will without any coercive force being applie

Question 37

JSM KEY QUOTE

Answer 37

“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant”
Refers to the harm principle

Question 38

JSM quote on developmental individualism

Answer 38

“better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”

Question 39

John Rawls

Answer 39

C20, Modern, equality of opportunity, foundational equality(should also require greater social and economic equality), enabling state
* Rawls was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was the second of five sons when two of which died from contracting fatal illnesses from rawls. Attended Episcopa,ian preparatory school in Connecticut, earned bachelor’s degree in 1943. Served in the army unril 1945. In 1950 earned a Ph.D. in moral philosophy and he taught at Princeton, Cornell university, the Massachusetts institute of technology and Harvard university where he was appointed professor in 1979. Remained committed to his academic and family life. Suffered several strokes, meaning he couldnt work in 1995 yet continued to complete the law of peoples and justice as fairness before he died on 24th of Novemeber 2002

Question 40

John Rawls key ideas

Answer 40

Society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living
A fair society is one in which the difference in outcomes for the richest and the poorest is kept to a minimum

Question 41

JR on human nature

Answer 41

Mankind is selfish yet empathetic, valuing both individual liberty and the plight of those around them.

Question 42

JR on society

Answer 42

The society most individuals would choose would be one where the condition of the poorest improved.

Question 43

JR on the state

Answer 43

The state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance, via public spending and public services.

Question 44

JR on the economy

Answer 44

Free-market capitalism should be tempered by the state’s obligation to advance its poorest citizens.

Question 45

JR key works

Answer 45

A Theory of Justice 1971

Question 46

JR

Question 47

JR

Question 48

Betty Friedan

Answer 48

• C20, Modern, equal rights for women (to give equal opportunity)
  American Liberal Feminist.
• Friedan is linked mainly to the development of feminist ideology but her ideas have also served to broaden liberalism’s interest in the equality of opportunity. Friedans key ideas were legal equality which refers to women and men are of equal worth and equally capable and oppressive laws and social views must be rejected and equal opportunity which refers to how women are restricted in their choices and opportunities by social conditioning through the family and agencies such as the education system and mass media.
  Individualism, all individuals should be free to seek control over their own lives and the full realisation of their potential.

Question 49

Betty Friedan Human nature

Answer 49

Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self-advancement among women.

Question 50

Betty Friedan Society

Answer 50

Society remained chauvinistic towards women, though women were complicit in their repression.

Question 51

Betty Friedan the state

Answer 51

The state should legislate to prevent continued discrimination against female individuals.

Question 52

Betty Friedan the economy

Answer 52

Free-market capitalism could be an ally of female emancipation, if allied to legislation precluding sexual discrimination.

Question 53

What was Rawls’ view of utilitarianism?

Answer 53

Rawls rejected the idea of utilitarianism because it did not take into account of the range of desires and goals pursued by individual people and some would find their interests ignored

Question 54

What was Rawls’ “original position”?

Answer 54

The theory that individuals would be asked to construct from scratch a society they judged to be superior to the one they lived in currently, questioning how wealth and power should be distributed. We are all equal in our ignorance

Question 55

What was Rawls’ “veil of ignorance”?

Answer 55

Individuals would have no preconceptions about the sort of people thet themselves might be in this new society. Rawls argued that when faced with such conditions, human nature being rational and empathetic would lead individuals to choose a society where the poorest members fared significantly better than in present society. Requires us to place ourselves in the position of others and to consider the danger of being born into poverty. Rawls assumed that people would want a fairer society with adequate housing, safe neighborhoods and a good education system. Society can be said to be fair when no one would care what circumstances we would be born into.

Question 56

Rawls liberty principle

Answer 56

The liberty principle states that each person has an equal right to a system of basic liberties that is compatible with a similar system for all. Rawls later revised the liberty principle to say that each person has an equal claim to fully adequate scheme of equal basic rights and liberties

Question 57

Rawls difference principle

Answer 57

Rawls argued that people would agree on the importance of equal rights including freedom of speech and right of assembly and would also accept a minimum standard of living. This principle would allow people to enjoy as much freedom as possible provided that it was not excercised at the expense of others. There would be inequality but it would be tolerated if it did not make those at the bottom worse off.

Question 58

JR KEY QUOTE ON VOI

Answer 58

“The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.”
The quote means that by imagining their behind a veil that obscures their personal characteristics and social status, individuals can design principles of justice without bias.

Question 59

JR KEY QUOTE

Answer 59

“The fairest rules are those to which everyone would agree if they did not know how much power they would have.”

Question 60

BF key work

Answer 60

The feminine Mystique (1963)
The feminine Mystique highlights the manifold issues facing the American housewife. She exposed the stifling boundaries placed upon women (mothers and housewives) and identified multiple frustrations of those who felt trapped by the confines of social expectations. The book is an image that encourages women to define themselves in relation to their husbands, home and children and so discourages them from competing with men in the public realm. Friedan concludes that women were afraid to ask themselves “Is this all?”

Question 61

BF type of liberal?

Answer 61

Modern liberalism - lay in her insistence that such reforms were perfectly consistent in many ways with the liberal tradition, she citied Mill’s harm principle, enlarged state. Classical liberalism - the protection and advancement of natural rights

Question 62

Similarities and differences between BF and MW

Answer 62

Both recognised the critical need for reform of womens rights and needs whom were stuck in society as housewives and identified the power than men had over women. Both believed that women were rational beings and capable of thought, reason and decision making and were not inferior to men.Mary had more classical liberal views to society whereas Freidan was more of a modern liberal. Mary believed that for women to become free women needed to have the same access to education that men had whereas Freidan believed that it was down to more legislation being in place to enable womens freedom in society

Question 63

BF social conditioning

Answer 63

Social conditioning- this path was set early with the family and school and was reinforced by social, cultural and religious influences. Freidan argued for wider opportunities for women and a change of attitudes in favour of greater equality between sexes, for many women being confined to a domestic role led to a lack of fulfilment and deep unhappiness

Question 64

BF - “the problem with no name”?

Answer 64

A tangible sense of dissatisfaction that lay buried deep within the minds of the American housewife. Freidan claimed that women were prevented from fulfilling their potential in life due to the confines of this cultural myth “the shores are strewn with the casualties of the feminine mystique”

Question 65

BF beleif about women? Why were they underachieving

Answer 65

She argued that gender was a serious hindrance to all females, illiberal attitudes rather than human nature that condemned most women to underachievement and these attitudes were nurtured via cultural channels. The cultural conditioning left many women convinced that their lot in life was determined by human nature rather than theur own rationality and enterprise. Friedans reputation as a feminist thinker was undermined by the fact she always disdained violcent or illegality as a means of pursuing change. She rejected the feminist argument that the state was patriarchal - liberal constitutionalism

Question 66

What did bf believe women needed in society?

Answer 66

Freidan belived passionately in the emancipation of women from the confines of a patriarchal society, women were as capable as men in terms of performing any type of work or career path. She advocated and lobbied in favour of legislative reform to address gender inequality. Female emancipation. Fredian argued for further legislation, further state regulation and positive discrimination, which involved the state and other employers correcting an historical imbalnce by discriminating in favour of individuals from groups who were previously discriminated against