Liberalism KTs

Question 1

Locke

Answer 1

Very influential ‘father of liberalism’, key texts include ‘Two Treatise of Government’ 1689.
key idea that humans are rational entities, and offer consent for the state to govern through the ‘Social Contract’ to uphold liberties in return for obeying the law, his ideas were implemented in American independence and in the Glorious Revolution, also argued religious persecution at odds in liberal government. Limited government, need state to ensure freedom ‘where laws do not exist man has no freedom’. Main role of social contract to protect ‘life, liberty, and property’.

Question 2

Wollstonecraft

Answer 2

Best known for ‘A vindication of the rights of woman’ 1792.
Equally claimed humans were rational but that so were women, argued ‘the mind has no gender’ and advocated for formal extension of the same civil liberties to men and women such as education.

Question 3

Mill

Answer 3

Best known work essays such as ‘On liberty’ 1859.
One of key ideas the ‘harm principle’ that we should be free to act until it harms the liberty of others, then the state can act, argues we have free will so should accept responsibility. Argued that a liberal society has ‘experiments in living’ and therefore diversity, so should restrain from imposing our opinion on others, must be free to openly debate and question majority beliefs. Argued for female emancipation and proportional representation.

Question 4

Friedan

Answer 4

Most important feminist work was ‘The Feminine Mystique’

Question 5

Rawls