modern liberalism Flashcards
what is positive freedom?
denotes belief individuals left alone often inhibited rather then “free”. individuals need enabling so they are “free” to exercise individual talents
what demands in the UK are for liberal reform?
written constitution
devolution power to regional governments
electoral reform
more accountable HoL
What do modern liberals believe threaten the “Tyranny of the majority”?
direct democracy
referendums and initiatives
What did Green think was holding individuals back and why?
unrestrained pursuit of power given rise to new forms of poverty affecting individuals ability to seek self-determination and realisation
greens ideas “socialist liberalism”
what is Greens example of businesses to criticise negative freedom?
case of businesses that wish to maximise profits, negative freedom justifies ability to hire cheapest labour possible
example- employ children rather than adults
economic freedom therefore lead to exploitation of “freedom to starve”
how did Green and others develop the liberal ideas of freedom to resolve this issue?
freedom now individuals enabling other individuals
approach allows individuals to act in a way that would have been impossible if left alone
examples of enabling from US president and UK PM’s?
Roosevelt’s “new deal”
Blair-minimum wage
Asquith and Lloyd George- “peoples budget”
how can we argue the phrase “liberal democracy” is not a contradiction?
democracy complements “government by consent”
democracy helps avoid avoid concentration political power
how can we argue the phrase “liberal democracy” is a contradiction
democracy tends to guide by majorities, threatens individuals w “tyranny of the majority”
Mill thought voters should be given only to those w appropriate formal education
How can we argue modern liberalism has abandoned the principles of classical liberalism?
classic liberalism defied liberty as individuals being left alone. modern liberals think they need to be enabled
classical liberalism championed minimal state, modern an enlarged one.
How can we argue modern liberalism has not abandoned principles of classical liberalism?
both believe in capitalism and oppose state ownership of economy
both see individualism as goal of politics and society
How did Rawels move away from classical liberal ideas about the state?
justifying sustainable extension of state in name of liberty. More laws, and spending etc. Became associated with collectivism
What did the critics say about Rawels moving away from principles of classical liberalism and the state?
faced charge that it betrayed fundamentalist principles of classic liberalism and blurred the distinction between liberalism and socialism
What did Rawels insist?
only enlarged state could guarantee equality of opportunity necessary to enable individual freedom
What did Rawels say was the priority?
ameliorate social and economic condition society for most deprived members and thus enable them to exploit individual potential and achieve control of their lives
What did Betty Friedan argue?
What did she suggest was the solution?
Too many individuals in western society held back on account of innate factors such as gender, ethnicity.
solution- further legislation, state regulation and some times positive discrimination
What are some examples of social liberalism?
Kennedys equal employment opportunities
race relations act 1975- criminalising discrimination against ethnic minorities
How did Friedan argue that these updates were consistent with liberalism?
citing Mills harm principle, laws criminalising sexual discrimination for example, designed merely to prevent female individuals having freedoms “harmed “by others
How does modern liberalism align with classical liberalism?
consistence with modern liberalism support for enlraged state, accompanied by intervionist agencies like EEOC, agencies still consistent with liberal state original aim for the protection and advancement of natural rights
What did Thomas Hill green think happiness derived from?
not from self-indulgence or gratification but from attending to happiness of others
What did Thomas Hill green believe the state should promote and prioritise?
promote widest possible degree choice and opportunity for everyone #should still prioritise individual liberty and happiness have social dimension that individuals were not oblivious to happiness of others
What was Rawels foundational equality?
individuals required greater social and economic equality as well as formal equality
What was Rawels 1st principle to prove his ideas on the state were not considered socialism?
individuals asked to construct society from scratch society judged to be superior to one currently lived in
What was Rawels 2nd principle to prove his ideas on the state were not considered socialism?
“Veil of ignorance”, no pre-conceptions about who people are in society, would want to construct safe society
What did Rawels say most people would pick when constructing a sate?
“fairer” society where inequalities lowest is one most people would choose, larger state with more taxation and wealth redistribution
What did Betty Friedan believe condemned women to underachievement?
liberal attitudes in society . Attitudes nurtured via societies cultural channels
example- school, religion, media. Left women to assume life is determined by nature rather than rationality
What did Betty Friedan reject?
radical argument that the state was patriarchal
significant progress is possible via legal equality and not violence
