Modern + Social Flashcards
ML Human Nature
- Developmental individualism and positive liberty.
- People should achieve their potential but also are obliged to help others, the less fortunate (self-sacrifice).
- Argues that poverty, squalor and ignorance in society made it impossible for freedom and individualism to flourish.
Rawls on HN
ML
- Mankind is selfish, but rational and empathetic.
- Values individual liberty and the plight of those around them, including the poorest members in a fairer society.
- Foundational equality meant that individuals required both equality under the law and social and economic equality.
Freidan on HN
SL
- All should be free to choose their own lives.
- Evolved in a way which discourages self-advancement among women - gender is a hindrance.
- Supports equality of all and rejected both male and female chauvinism.
State
- An extensive state will repel the new socio-economic threats to freedom and individualism, funded by increased taxation and public spending.
- Favours constitutional reform, increasing suffrage and introducing a liberal dem.
Rawls on State
Justifies the extension of the state to enable less fortunate individuals to advance through public spending and public services (welfare state) - liberates individuals from social and economic problems.
Freidan on State
SL
- Believed change occurs through govt legal equality:
- Cited Mill’s harm principle in favour of an enabling state, supported criminalisation laws on sexual discrimination from others harming females’ liberties.
- Accompanied by interventionist agencies like Employment Opportunity Commission - requires those managing projections financed by the state to take ‘affirmative action’ to employ racial minorities.
- Rejected the patriarchal state + control by a dominant gender, offering a more optimistic view.
Economy
- Believed in state intervention in the economy by some redistribution of wealth via a progressive tax.
- State must steer the economy and manage demand to secure full employment, as otherwse, there’s difficulty for individual liberty.
Rawls on Economy
ML
- Free-market capitalism should be tempered by the state’s obligation to advance its poorest citizens.
- He argued that redistribution of wealth wasn’t a ‘surrender to socialism’ but is consistent with liberal principles.
Freidan on Economy
SL
- Free-market legislation can help female emancipation from patriarchal society if used with leg to prevent sexual discrimination.
- Believes the govt should interfere with the economy via Keynesian economics.
Society
- Disagreed individuals were innately autonomous - promotes equality of opportunity (positive freedom).
- Foundational equality - social justice required if individuals were to fulfil their potential.
- Argues that poverty, squalor and ignorance in society made it impossible for freedom and individualism to flourish.
- Updated position on tolerance, arguing society discriminated against minorities.
Rawls on Society
ML
States the society that most would choose would be the one where the condition of the poorest improved. He constructed the series of philosophical conditions:
+ Original position (current society which requires individuals to create a better society) and the veil of ignorance (no preconceptions about who they will be in this new society - white or ethnic minority, rich or poor) and are all rational, free and moral equal beings.
Freidan on Society
SL
- Individuals held back by society because of innate factors like ethnicity, orientation. disability and gender (women).
- Contested attitudes were nurtured and transmitted by society’s culture channels (schools, religion, media, literature and film).
