What is Liberalism? Flashcards
What is the liberal view of human nature?
Humans are reason-guided creatures
We chose the path that is logical
Because human beings are rational, they should be trusted with their freedom
They are capable of defining and pursuing their own interests
Paternalism = Wrong and unnecessary
Conflict can be resolved through debate, not through violence
What is individualism?
The individual is more important than the claims of any social group or collective body
Individuals possess self-awareness, capabilities, personality and free will to decide their own destiny
*We are all unique - Each human being is separate and uniqye, defined by quality and attributes that are specific to themselves
We are all the same - We are all the same because we are all individuals - we aren’t defined by social categories (i.e. gender, class). Liberalism = “difference blind”
