The State Flashcards
What is the state of nature?
Philosophical device used in the 17th century by both Hobbes and Locke to justify the very different types of political state they were proposing.
What is a state required to do?
To arbitrate effectively between competing claims of rational individuals.
What is the liberal state founded upon?
The rejection of the traditional state.
How is a liberal state made legitimate?
Through government by consent - where the people under the rule of the state agree to be ruled.
What did Locke say about the government?
“Government should always be the servant, not the master, of the people”
What is a social contract and who came up with that idea?
Jean Jacques Rousseau - idea that the state should be a “deal” between the governments and governed.
What do liberals believe individuals had before the formal state was created ?
“Natural rights” that enabled self realisation, self determination and therefore individualism
What is the harm principle ?
View that particular beliefs that may be frowned upon should be tolerated just as long as they don’t “harm” the freedom of others.
What is foundational equality?
The liberal belief that every individual is born equal, with equal natural rights. Such individuals are therefore entitled to legal equality in a liberal state.
If an individual fails to fulfil their potential what must they assume?
That they take total responsibility for this failure because they have had equality of opportunity
What is equality of opportunity?
The belief that all individuals should be allowed similar opportunities to develop their potential.
For liberals how use the state be structured?
- constitutional/limited government
- fragmented government
- formal equality
What is limited government?
Involves the government being “limited”, in terms of how it can act, by a constitutions formal rules and procedures.
What is a constitution designed to do?
Prevent governments from eroding the natural rights of their citizens.
What is a fragmented government?
Where the liberal states power is merely dispersed and fragmented - not concentrated in one body
