Liberalism Similarities and differences Flashcards
What are the two main types of liberalism?
Classical and modern liberalism
What is the similar liberal view on human nature ?
- The belief in rationality
- liberty
- Individualism
- Natural rights, the idea that there are automatic rights that humans are born in to
What is classical liberalism ?
- This is the earliest liberal tradition from the transition from feudalism to capitalism.
- A reaction to religious conformity and the ascribed status of feudal society
What are some differences on HUMAN NATURE?
- Egotistical individualism- this idea is supported by classical liberals where freedom is associated with self interest this does not result in selfishness or the desire for power.
- Modern liberals are in favour of the development of individuals vs egotistical individualism. This means that ..
- Negative liberty vs positive liberty = modern liberals support positive liberty this encourages equality of opportunity and the freedom to do something, links with enabling state. Negative liberty is the idea that there should be no constraints on freedoms.
Unitarianism- this emphasises numbers as being valuable where as modern liberals would argue that people are valuable
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What are some similarities of liberal views and the state?
- Agree on a suspicion of the state because of its threat to liberty and freedom
- Believe that the state is a “ Necessary evil”
- Corruption of power..
- Principle of self government, people should have the power to rule themselves
- Believe in the mechanistic theory- that the state was created to protect the liberties of the people
- Representative democracy, rejects the idea of populism and direct democracy and referendums [=
- Universal suffrage- the right to vote for everyone
What are some differences on the view of the state?
Classical liberals believe in a minimal state compared to an Enabling state that modern libs support. This means that the state lays down conditions but does not intervene in peoples lives. Modern libs favour an enabling state where the state is highly involved in peoples lives, education and policies etc see this implemented in Gordon brown gov and Blair
- Harm principle- state intervention when involving harm
What is the Mechanistic theory?
The mechanistic theory refers to the belief that the state was created to protect the rights of the people.
what are some Example policies of the modern liberal view of the state
- government of the early 1900s, which introduced old-age pensions and National Insurance.
- Blair gov ..
What is meant by Tolerance as a societal liberal view?
- The idea of Tolerance, do not tolerate the intolerable eg laws that restrict freedom of speach
What are some similarities on the liberal view of society ?
-The idea of tolerance
- Meritocracy- achieved status not ascribed
- Formal equality , foundation equality
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What are some differences on the liberal view on society?
Cultural conditioning vs legal rights - Classical lib ( Betty Fridan) Modern lib( Marywoolstonecraft) the differences on women’s rights and societal attitudes towards them
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What are some similarities on the economy?
- Capitalism , there is a right to property it is described as the tangible expression of individualism
What are some differences on the economy using a liberal approach.
- Kenyanism- state intervention
- Classical libs reject the idea of state intervention and highlight the view of a mixed economy
What is a minimal state and what type of liberal supports this idea?
- Classical liberals support the idea of minimal state and negative freedom
- minimising gov activities such as taxation , legislating and taxing protects the rights of liberty
What type of liberal supports the idea of laissez- faire view on the economy ?
Classical liberals- this is because laissez fair allows private enterprise and capitalism with little to no interference with the state
