OB - Liberalism

Question 1

primary principles of liberalism

Answer 1

-founded on ideas of liberty and equality
- civil rights
-stresses the importance of individual freedom and human rights, and the need for limits on the power of the state
-toleration of other beliefs and values
- freedom is. natural right
-came out of enlightenment

Question 2

John Locke 1632-1704

Answer 2

-father of liberalism
-Two treaties of Gov 1690
-classical liberal
-ideas formulated in the wake on eng civil war
- rational thinking

Question 3

lockes view on state

Answer 3

• disagreed with divine right to govern
  -true state would be created by mankind to serve mankind
  -gov by consent
  -limited government
  -state of nature ( gov should improve the lives of people)

Question 4

lockes view on human nature

Answer 4

• optimistic view of human nature, guided by rationalism
  -underpiined by natural liberties and natural rights

Question 5

lockes view on society

Answer 5

• everyone born with natural right to life,liberty and property
• if rulers fail to protect those right may be removed by the people by force is necessary

Question 6

Mary Wollstonecraft 1759-97

Answer 6

-lived through French Revolution + US
-classical liberal ( welcomed both revolutions)
-Vindication of the rights of Woman (1792)
-first wave feminist

Question 7

Mary Wellstone craft views on the STATE/economy/human nature/society

Answer 7

-stressed support for a republican gov and formal equality
-constitutional defence of individual rights

Question 8

Wollstonecraft on society

Answer 8

-equality between me and female
-emphasised education in allowing people to realise the absurdity of divine rights of kinds
-challenged orthodox view that women were less rational than men and therefore entitled to fewer rights
-marriage should be between two equals

Question 9

John Stuart Mill 1806-73

Answer 9

-middle of Industrial Revolution
-stepping stone liberal from classical to modern liberalism (transitional liberalism)
- On liberty 1859
-rest of the world is backwards, needs colonising

Question 10

JS mill view on society

Answer 10

• negative freedom= freedom mainly involved an absence of restraint
  -harm principle= individuals actions should always be tolerated unless those actions harm people

Question 11

js mill view on human nature

Answer 11

• was never the ‘finished article’ as it had been for classical liberals
  -there was always room for improvement

Question 12

js mill view on state

Answer 12

• feared that a democratic state had the potential to create a tyranny of the majority
  -votes based on education
  -state intervention to help the poor

Question 13

js mills views on economy

Answer 13

-favoured inheritance tax as wealth passed through generations was unfair

Question 14

John Rawls 1921-2002

Answer 14

-furthest liberal thinker to socialism
- A theory of justice 1971 ( called for greater social and economic equality in society)
-veil of ignorance= individuals would have no preconceptions about the sort of people they themselves might be in this new society

Question 15

Rawls view on society

Answer 15

-a just society would be possible through redistribution of wealth via enabling state, with extensive public spending and progressive taxation

Question 16

Rawls view on human nature

Answer 16

-hm being rational and empathetic would lead individuals to choose a society where the poorest members fared better than in present society
- fairer society included reduced inequalities

Question 17

Rawls view on state

Answer 17

• needed high taxation and wealth redistribution
  -government by consent

Question 18

Betty Friedan 1921-2006

Answer 18

-through civil rights inn 60’s
-liberal feminist/ second wave feminist
-Feminine Mystique 1963 ( woman are held back from reaching their potential)
-females should be able to choose their destiny

Question 19

friendans view on society

Answer 19

• a concern for individualism lay at the heart of freindans philosophy
  -insisted that all individuals should be free to seek control over their own lives
  -it was illiberal attitutdes in society rather than human nature that condemned most women to underachievement

Question 20

friedans views. on state

Answer 20

-she disdained violence or illegality
-significant progress was made through a liberal state
-state was patriarchal

Question 21

more info about liberalism

Answer 21

-liberals look to the future with great positivity
-rationality: people make decisions based on reason
-egotistical individualism: human beings are naturally drawn to advancements of their own interests
-

Question 22

features of a liberal state

Answer 22

-individualism: state should not restrict rights but promote and protect them
-tolerance
-meritocracy
-equality of opportunity
-justice

Question 23

1)classical liberalism late 17c to 18c view on state
2) modern liberalism view on state

Answer 23

1)-minimal state intervention as it allows individualism
2) enlarged state eg pensions child funds