Philosophers Flashcards
————————————how it started
The reformation
Religious revolution that challenged the catholic church that led to the founding of protestantism
Luther argued that the catholic church had been corrupted
They wanted they bible to be translate and the church to be simple
The first time they did not obey to religious oppression
This encouraged people to think they are individuals and gave more tolerance
Enlightenment
Put science and rational thoughts in front of faith and tradition
As there was a scientific revolution
This challenged that the king was chosen by god
Enlightenment thinkers began to argue that the states authority to govern from people not god
Humans are capable of rational thought and maybe we’re all equal
Liberalism values the importance of individual freedom
John locke (1632-1704)(classical liberalism)
Collectivist society think they should limits are placed on individual freedom in order to erasure the common good such as NHS
Individualism, liberals think individuals should be left as free as possible to pursue their own interests.eg online privacy
Modern liberals have supported the use of some collectivist measures like NHS, to give the poorest man freedom
Liberals think all people are rational they can make decisions
Locke believed we are born as a white blank paper and which knowledge is based on our experiences
He didn’t want us to accept tradition or other opinions as there so many falsehoods in men
They must think for ourselves
Locke and liberals stress the importance of education
Locke thinks everyone is free so everyone is equal
We are born from the same species, so we are equal
Foundational equality locke believed - we are born with equal moral worth
We are born equally and we all possess natural rights.
Locke believed natural rights - legal rights bestowed by the government, but the natural rights are predate systems of the government and belong to people since their born by being human
Locke said The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone and reason which is that law teaches all mankind who will but consult it
Everyone’s equal, everyone should be equal
Lock said if locke wanted people to respect his rights he must respect their rights
This include tolerating other people’s religion views- ending violence triggered by reformation
Locke said people should be left to their own consciousness
In a state of perfect freedom, it might lead to fights on who owns things, so we need a powerful state to enforce these laws
Any legitimate authority must be done by legitimate consent by the people
Mankind had done a social contract, an agree to surrender some rights to be protected and keep their rights
Locke said while a state is necessary for freedom, but he understands state could become too powerful and destroy rights
Classical liberals understand this so they put regulation so the state doesn’t become too powerful
Fiduciary- someone trusted to act on behalf and in the best interests of someone else
The people trust the government with their liberty and rights, but the people can withdraw from this so the people have the supremacy of power
John Stuart mill(classical liberals)
Harm principle , state should intervene only to stop people from harming each other
If someone is practising their religious belief and it doesn’t affect them then don’t do anything
‘Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign’
Classical liberals were more concerned with negative rights eg freedom of speech
Mill said we need equal women rights
He criticised the despotic power of husbands over wives
Utilitarianism- the best actions and laws bring about the best good(utility)
Egoistical individuals - sees individual pursuing their one self interests and leave them
Classical liberals had much more atomistic view of society, individuals should pursue self interest
Also wanted minimal state/ night watchman state- common defence and police force to enforce negative rights
Watch like a guard to enforce property rights rather than providing welfare are public services
Wanted laissez faire economics - few state regulations few subsidies and taxes
Locke said while God gave birth to everyone equally, goods would not be shared commonly.
Locke for private property said its more efficient and an increase in common stock of mankind
Liberals believe more on equality of opportunity, liberals argue equality of outcome is determined by talent and hardwork
Classicals think of non discrimination - they shouldn’t be prevented from doing things
Meritocracy - formal equality of opportunity
Mill said because we are all unique we should be as free as possible to create our happiness - need freedom to grow up
Mill said actions should be the best to produce the best good but long term good.
Mill - development individualism - extent to where individuals are able to grow and achieve their potential
modern liberal - john rawls
Modern liberals were Impacted of industrialisation and capitalism
Negative freedom wasn’t enough
Some factory workers had hard repetitive and often dangerous work
Positive freedom - freedom to develop, learn, grow and fulfil our goals - can be undermined by inequality
Modern liberals began to argue for positive rights eg right to work , healthcare, education
This is necessary to fulfil their potential
While classical liberals accepted mills on actions that activity harmed others
Modern liberals saw it as acceptable to more broadly restrict actions that would imply make it harder for people to fulfil their potential
Green said in a perfect world healthcare and education would be provided spontaneously and charitably
Modern liberals said an enabling state- actively promotes freedom by ensuring that all individuals live and work in the minimum conditions necessary for them to realise their goals
Starving man is not free - Beveridge
Modern liberals reconsidered laissez faire economics- its not reliable
Keynesian economics - gov investment - increase demand - new jobs
Modern liberals said there is no equality unless the govt intervene
(modern liberal)John rawls - veil of ignorance- this veil prevent you from knowing anything about who you are
Every citizen should have same equal rights and liberties
Desire a perfectly equal distribution of wealth as we will born with advantages and disadvantages
Rawls said we might tolerate an unequal society if it was on which the poor were better off than if everyone was equal
Said there be fair equality of opportunity - people are born with disadvantages have the same opportunity as those who are born with advantages
Different principle- they are able to be to the greatest benefit to the least advantages member of society
Rawls agreed it is necessary for seriation if it helps everyone be free and reach their goals
Mary Wollstonecraft(modern liberal)
Liberal feminism
Liberal values hold be applied to both men and women
First wave feminism 19th and early 20th century - focus largely on women’s suffrage and property rights
Women were seen to be weaker than men physically and mentally before
Women had far fewer legal rights than men -married women had less legal independence
Women were expected to obey their husbands
Firmly on liberal ideas
She agreed all men possess natural rights
She stress women are capable of reason so deserved the same rights
She thought it was irrational to not listen to half of mankind’s rights
She argued are women are inferior because society encourages women to get married but men to be economically independent
She wanted a new national school system so there is equality of opportunity for everyone
It wasn’t her intention for all abandon their role as mothers and wives she wanted them to do both
She played a role of the revolution controversy, supported revolution
She said happiness comes from friends and intimacy
It was irrational for wealth and power to be lended to the eldest son - wanted inheritance laws to be reformed so all could thrive
In the early 20th century it gave rights for women to vote
Second wave feminism 1960s - 1980s in America
Targeted legal inequalities and workplaces
Betty Friedan (modern liberal)
Feminine mystique - book - false narrative presented in schools that women were content that women were housewives
She found manny were unhappy with their lives as housewives
Just as modern liberals argued that formal equality did not give poor true freedom - friedan argued that comfortable middle class were not able to realise their potential
She urged women to shake off the women mystique - need to grow and reach their full potential
Freidan was the founding member of the nation of women - bill of rights for women - wanted to be alongside men - wanted more rights for women that are positive rights
Freidan want to encourage them not to abandon their career goals
