liberalism society

Question 1

what are the 3 types of society according to liberals?

Answer 1

• the ‘natural society’
• the individualistic society
• the tolerant society

Question 2

what do liberals think of society as ‘natural’?

Answer 2

• John rawles defined society as the peaceful, voluntary interaction of multiple individuals.
• however, liberals from Locke onwards have argued that society was not dependent upon the exsistence of a state.
• owing to their belief that human nature is respectful and fundamentally decent, liberals argue that society predates the state- hence Locke’s reference to the ‘natural society’ and a mainly peaceful ‘state of nature’
• due to mankind’s rationality, this natural society was one which facilitated ‘natural rights’, ‘natural laws’ and ‘natural justice’
• according to liberalism, life before the state was not ‘brutish and short’
• instead, liberals argue that pre-state life was agreeable and generally efficient, and not something we could have automatically wished to end

Question 3

what do liberals think of society as ‘individualistic’?

Answer 3

• liberals state that a ‘legitimate’ society must be one where the maximum number of individuals can persue self-realisation and self-determination. as such it will be one where individuals are free from any barriers stemming from prejudice or discrimination
• as JSM emphasised, the main job of liberal politicians was to create the conditions for such an individualistic society
• wollenstonecraft and friedan asserted that the partriachal, male-dominated society conflicted with women’s quest for self-determination and was therefore at odds with liberal individualism
• in supporting individualism, liberals are concednrned with those underepresented or minority within society such as locke championed religious non-comfortmists rights and friedan championed womens rights

Question 4

what do liberals think of society as ‘tolerant’?

Answer 4

• liberal support for minorities connects with liberalism’s commitment to a more tolerant society, without which universal self-realisation is impossible
• ‘i dissaprove of what you say, but i will defend to the death your right to say it’
• JSM developed this was the harm principle which states that individuals should be free to do and say anything that does not harm the liberty of other individuals
• libeeral thinkers like Thomas Hill Green accept that individuals will be drawn to, and rely on, societies that tolerate thir individualism
• intolerance and general opposition to liberal ideas are often assumed by liberals to stem from ignorance or misunderstanding. for this reason, Mill’s faith in consensus via education remains crucial to the liberal project.