socialism society

Question 1

what do socialists view about society?

Answer 1

It is:
- existential
- collectivist
- class-focused
- egalitarian

Question 2

what do socialists believe about society being existential?

Answer 2

• they argue that without a proper appreciation of society , they argue, any understanding of human nature is impossible. society is thought to be existentially significant to the human condition
• as crosland explained “we cannot separate who we are from the sort of society we have”
• in short, socialists believe that traditional societies often damage both the potential and attitude of their individual members
• however, given its ‘malleable’ view of human nature, socialism argues that, if society can somehow be improved, the condition and prospects if its individuals will be improved as well

Question 3

what do socialists believe about society being collectivist?

Answer 3

• socialists believe society is at its best when it stresses collectivism: the idea that an individuals efforts are practically and morally superior when tied to the efforts and interests of others.
• unlike liberals, socialists think that individuals are at their most effective when they act as a unit.
• a socialist society will therefore be one that encourages the concept of being stronger when working together

Question 4

what do socialists believe about society being class-focused?

Answer 4

• many socialists highlight a class division between manual and non-manual workers, which supposedly reflects a split between those who are well paid and those who are not.
• what makes socailism distinct is its frequent assumption that society is shaped and defined by class differences and often class conflict
• as a result, socialists hihglight grievous inequalities of opportunity between the different social classes which then create broader inequalities in society. on its quest for a fairer society, it is this supposed problem that socialism seeks to correct.

Question 5

what do socialists believe about society being egalitarian?

Answer 5

• socialists insist that foundational equality is meaningless if accompanied by a society that has huge inequalities of wealth and power. socialists therefore claim that, for society to have real equality of opportunity, it must also have greater equality of outcome, where differences of wealth and power are reduced
• they believe that legal justice is insufficient if not accompanied by social justice
• as crossland asserted, the main aim of socialism was to ‘narrow the gap between societys weaker and stronger classes’
• as webb observed, ‘the humble should be made mightier and the mighty made humbler’