Liberalism- The liberal state: origins (SB)

Question 1

To appreciate liberalism’s belief in a state, it is important to remember that

Answer 1

while liberalism takes an optimistic view of human nature, it still accepts that, within the state of nature, there would have been clashes of interests between individuals pursuing their own, egocentric agendas

Question 2

Locke was especially worried that

Answer 2

without the sort of formal structures only a state can provide, the resolution of such clashes — particularly clashes concerning property — might not always be swift and efficient

Question 3

Why was a mechanism — a state — was required?

Answer 3

Individualism in the state of nature could have been impeded by stalemated disputes between competing individuals. So a mechanism — a state — was required, to arbitrate effectively between the competing claims of rational individuals.

Question 4

State of nature

Answer 4

this was a philosophical device used in the 17th century by both thomas Hobbes and John Locke to justify the every different types of political state they were proposing it referred to what life might have been like before laws, formal rules and govts came into being

Question 5

For liberals the state of nature, tolerable though it may be, is still ..

Answer 5

inferior to the particular ‘formalised’ state liberal recommend