US: Liberalism Flashcards
Summarise the thinking of John Locke
- Social contract theory: voluntary agreement with government
- Limited government: the state can only rule with consent
- “government has no other end than the preservation of property”
Summarise the thinking of Mary Wollstonecraft
- Women are capable of rational thought
- Formal equality: women can only be free if provided equal rights to men
- “if the rights of man will bear discussion and explanation those of women will not shrink from the same test”
Summarise the thinking of John Stuart Mill
- Harm principle: government must leave individuals free to do anything providing it does not cause harm to them or others
- The role of gov. is not to pass popular laws, but those which ensure happiness
- “If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he would by silencing mankind”
Summarise the thinking of John Rawls
- Theory of Justice: role of gov. is to guarantee everyone a life worth living
- The Veil of ignorance: government’s role is to create society where every individual is guaranteed minimal economic opportunities
- “The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance”
Summarise the thinking of Betty Friedan
- Governments must be guardian of equality between sexes and tackle social issues
- Must protect equal statues of citizens bu enforcing opportunities for both to flourish
- “A woman is handicapped by her sex” AND “Man is not the enemy here, but the fellow victim, if we don’t enforce equality we all live in an oppressive state and tyranny”
What were the values of Early liberalism, and who were some early liberal thinkers?
- Revolutionary potential, government given power by consent- populace has the right to overthrow them if necessary
- Negative liberty, “freedom from is not freedom to” Isiah Berlin. Gov. must allow freedom
- Minimal state, ‘The government that is best is that which governs least” Thomas Jefferson
- Laissez-faire capitalism, private business should not be regulated, Adam Smith argues for trickle-down economics
What were the values of Later liberalism and who were some later liberal thinkers?
- Maximum happiness, Bentham, “greatest happiness for the greatest number”
- Smiles, if state helps people they will “remain stunted, their talents unknown and liberties squandered”
- Spencer, believes in social Darwinism
- Mill, elect liberally-minded people and give them decisions to avoid “tyranny of majority”, wanted state to educate people “developmental individualism”
What were the values of modern liberalism and who were some modern liberals?
- Positive liberty, individuals cannot be left alone to their devices otherwise they are inflicted
- Enlarged state to meet welfare demands and high taxes
- Constitutional reform, “if state is enlarged, it must also be improved” Hobhouse
- Social liberalism, Betty Friedan arguing for protection of minorities (Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Race Relations Act 1976)
What are the values of present-day liberalism (neo-liberalism) and what are some examples of liberal legislation?
- Modern liberals reject conservatism but try to reduce public spending + regulation (e.g. Tony Blair rewrote Clause IV “common ownership”)
- Liberalism is more reactionary than progressive, neo-liberals branded as tories
- 1970s economic crisis and Keynesian economics: more public spending and lower taxes will spark economic growth
TWE do liberals disagree over the role of the state in protecting its inhabitants
AGREE:
- Hobbes, “nasty, brutish and short” (s.o.n. w/out gov.)
- Mill, harm principle
DISAGREE:
- Mill, harm principle (minimal)
- Hobhouse, individuals restricted by freedom
TWE do liberals disagree over the role of the state in the economy?
AGREE:
- Later liberal, Bentham argued for the greatest happiness for the greatest number, therefore supporting welfare state
- Rawls supports welfare state
DISAGREE:
- Modern liberals want more welfare spending, neo-liberals want austerity
- Smiles, individuals stunted by gov. intervention
- Rawls, state intervention necessary for equal opportunity and the “veil of ignorance”
TWE do liberals agree over the role of the state within social inequality?
AGREE:
- All stand against the class structure, originates with the idea of revolution against crown (Hobbes and Locke)
DISAGREE:
- Betty Friedan, state should close gender gap and create more diverse (and therefore more efficient) society
- Spencer, Social darwinism
- Atrophy: if the state interferes people won’t feel the need to work and they will no longer improve themselves (bc they won’t need to anymore)
HOWEVER: without state intervention some people cannot realise their potential (access to education, welfare etc.)
- State overload: if the state has too much power it will be bloated with responsibilities
HOWEVER: devolution is a solution to this and it is important to offer more assistance in reaching potential to those who need it
- Initiative: Small state creates commercial initiative, support for the feckless interferes with free market
HOWEVER: regulation supporting minorities and women will make society more efficient and more employed
