Liberalism- The core ideas of Liberalism, HUMAN NATURE (SB) Flashcards
What did Liberals view of human nature strongly reflect?
strongly reflected the view associated with the Enlightenment
The Enlightenment’s most important features had been the challenge it issued to…?
The established medieval notion of human nature- one that was strongly tied to the religious doctrine of original sin.
Original sin medieval doctrine
This doctrine rooted in the teachings of traditional Christianity , held that mankind was deeply flawed and imperfect, and that man’s only hope lay in him acknowledging his flaws and imperfections while praying for the grace and forgiveness of God
Liberals perspective of original sin’s doctrine regarding human nature
Locke and other philosophers has always denied this bleak view, instead offering a more optimistic view of human nature
Liberalism duly argues…
that human nature has a huge capacity to bring about progress, and an unending ability to forge greater human happiness
What is at the heart of Liberals’ optimistic view on human nature?
At the heart of this optimistic view is a belief that individuals are guided principally by reason or rationalism, and thus are able to calculate answers to all sorts of problems
Where do Liberals believe that mankind’s innate reason is manifested?
In debate, discussion, peaceful argument and the measured examination of ideas and opinions
According to Liberalism, individuals have the capacity to ..
plan their own future and effect a preconceived outcome rather than meekly accepting what life offers- perhaps on the grounds that it is the ‘will of God’ or simply ‘fate’
Which two concepts itself are also central to the rationalists ideas (regarding individuals and their future ) ?
The concepts of both planning and the subsequent ‘plan’ itself are central to the rationalist idea and the cheery liberal belief that human nature allows us to shape our destiny
For liberalism human ‘problems’ are
merely challenges awaiting reasoned solutions
According to liberalism how can individuals who really want something achieve it?
Through reason plus determination
Liberals assume that rationality is…
a universal feature of human nature
Because…Liberals assume that rationality is a universal feature of human nature
they usually assume that reasoned discussion leads to consensus
For liberals individuals are …
naturally self-seeking and self serving
For liberals individuals are naturally self-seeking and self serving hence Liberalism’s association with
Egotistical individualism
Egotistical individualism
linked to early classical lib
denotes a belief that human beings
are naturally drawn to the advancement of their own happiness
its proponents, citing mankind’s concurrent rationalism, deny this leads to conflict or gross insensitivity
According to liberals view on human nature, individuals are naturally drawn to a situation…
where they are independent and in charge of their own destiny
According to liberalism what will stop egotistical individualism leading to destructiveness selfishness and competition
mankind’s innate rationality and virtue
Liberals claim individuals are both
egotistical and reasonable making them sensitive to the perspectives of their fellow men and women
Why are individuals sensitive to the perspectives of their fellow men and women?
because they’re both egotistical and reasonable
What does individuals being sensitive to the perspectives of their fellow men and women ensure?
this ensures that for liberals the natural condition of human nature is one of self-aware individuals, living in peace, harmony and mutual understanding
