State, Society, Economy, Human Nature

Question 1

The state - key agreements

Answer 1

• state should promote individualism and freedom
• necessary yet has the potential to be evil, it should therefore be limited.
• should treat individuals equally under the law, promote tolerance and protect the rights of minorities.
• state should be based on liberal democracy and include decentralisation of power.

Question 2

The state - disagreements

Answer 2

CL - nightwatchman state
Vs
ML - enabling state

ML - greater state intervention in the economy
Vs
ML - limited state intervention in the economy
^same with social justice

CL - gov by consent, but not full democracy to the same extent that modern liberals do.

Question 3

The economy - agreements

Answer 3

• support for capitalism and private property, as it promotes individualism and freedom
• inequality holds women back in the economy.

Question 4

The economy - disagreements

Answer 4

• laissez-faire capitalism vs Keynesianism and enabling state
• CL believe that capitalism creates a meritocracy, most liberals dont

Question 5

Society - key agreements

Answer 5

• society should promote individualism, freedom and progress
• there are natural rights and a natural society which the state is a threat to
• society should promote tolerance and protect the rights of minorities
• society should promote tolerance and protect the rights of minorities
• society should promote equality and social justice

Question 6

Society - disagreements

Answer 6

• CL negative freedom vs ML positive freedom
• CL egotistical individualism vs ML developmental individualism with an enabling state
• CL support formal equality and see society as a meritocracy vs ML don’t believe society is a meritocracy and go further to argue that there should be equality of opportunity.

Question 7

Human nature - agreements

Answer 7

• support for rationalism and individualism
• optimistic view of human nature and the possibility for progress
• belied that people have natural rights
• supporting equality across the population

Question 8

Human nature - disagreements

Answer 8

• CL believe in egotistical individualism, whilst Modern Liberals believe in developmental individualism.
• CL believe in negative freedom and that people can just be left alone in a meritocracy. Modern Liberals believe in positive freedom and that and enabling state is needed.

Question 9

United v disunited

Answer 9

• more united as clearly driven by supporting key principles of freedom and individualism. Both have great focus on promoting individual autonomy.
• ML is far more interventionist, very different beliefs in what the state should do.