Liberalism (on P1 for mocks)

6 core principles of liberalism - individualism overview (born with…, positive = trusted (sovereign), freedom of expression)

everyone born a unique individual with basic HRs / positive view on HN = rational, can be trusted to make our own decisions (individual is sovereign) / freedom of expression is key to individualism

6 core principles of liberalism - individualism key terms (EI vs DI)

egoistical individualism - all individuals must help themselves to improve, negative freedom / developmental individualism - must help each other improve, positive freedom

6 core principles of liberalism - individualism classical vs modern (CLs - R + T, sovereign / MLs - unequal, negative freedom exacerbates, critique = DI)

CLs (Locke and Mill) - individual is rational and tolerant = sovereign, egoistical / MLs (Rawls) - society isn’t equal, some individuals have advantages - negative freedom exacerbates this (MLs critique CL egoistical individual) = developmental

6 core principles of liberalism - freedom/liberty overview (natural right, Locke quote, free from, social contract)

freedom is a natural right - Locke: govt. had to protect ‘life, liberty. and estate’ / free from dictatorship/monarchy / social contract - individuals are governed by consent + limited govt.

6 core principles of liberalism - freedom/liberty strands (CLs - natural right, Locke’s liberty quote, state’s role, anti, pro / MLs - expanded, freedom)

CLs - freedom is a natural right, Locke: ‘where there is no law there is no liberty’ - state has to ensure freedoms, anti-monarchy, pro-social contract and free market / MLs - expanded on this, included freedom of speech, thought, and religion (use Mill)

6 core principles of liberalism - state as a necessary evil overview (‘‘ ‘‘, limited, only purpose, agents of the state)

state is a necessary evil - should be limited, only purpose is to uphold our HRs and national security / agents of state should be limited

6 core principles of liberalism - state as a necessary evil strands - classicals (EI + LFC, small state, anti.., const.)

advocates for egoistical individualism + laissez-faire capitalism / small state to protect ‘life, liberty, and estate’ / anti-monarchy and the idea of ‘divine right of kings’ (pro-social contract as developed by Locke) / pro-constitutionalism

6 core principles of liberalism - state as a necessary evil strands - moderns (enabling R, T.H. Green, VAT, Keynes / F - state + legislation)

enabling state (Rawls) / T.H. Green = larger role to promote equality of opportunity (e.g.: 20% VAT on private schools), / pro-Keynesian economics (intervention to stimulate growth) / Friedan - state had to guarantee women’s rights through legislation

6 core principles of liberalism - rationalism overview (enlightenment key thinkers + L, reason, self-interested but rational, progressive society)

age of enlightenment - key thinkers, e.g.: Descartes and Kant, started having more positive views on HN - underpins Locke’s ideas + liberalism / people driven by reason / self-interested, but rational, so we can make good decisions / intellectual ability to create a progressive society

6 core principles of liberalism - rationalism strands (CL: Locke’s judge and guide quote, free from external authorities + ML - similar, M)

CLs - Locke: ‘reason must be our last Judge and Guide in everything’, can be more free from external authorities like the state/Church / MLs - similar/shared view - good to use Mill

6 core principles of liberalism - equality/social justice overview (treated fairly, can’t be free otherwise, key examples)

individuals are of equal value, should be treated fairly / can’t be truly free unless equal / key examples - UDHR 1948, UK HRA ‘98 + US CRA 1964

6 core principles of liberalism - equality/social justice strands - classicals (eq. of opp., meritocracy, hard work + low taxes/private property, distinct, W - women equally rational, equal rights)

equality of opportunity = everyone has a fair and even start in life / meritocracy / successes due to one’s own hard work = links to low taxes + right to private property (Locke) / distinct from equality of outcome / Wollstonecraft - men and women are equally rational, women deserved equal employment and property ownership rights

6 core principles of liberalism - equality/social justice strands - moderns (social justice, welfare = free, Friedan, Rawls + book)

social justice - not everyone starts off at the same point (due to no equality of outcome) / so some welfare needed to assist disadvantaged people - cannot be truly free otherwise / Friedan - assistance needed for women to ensure gender equality / Rawls - meritocracy produces unequal outcomes, so a welfare state was needed (Theory of Justice book)

6 core principles of liberalism - liberal democracy overview (democracy that balances… / pro… hence pro-revs + separation)

democracy that balances the will of the people (through elections + representatives) with a limited govt. and respect for civil rights / pro-accountability, transparency, constitutionalism - hence French and American Revolutions of the Age of Enlightenment, and separation of powers

6 core principles of liberalism - liberal democracy strands (CLs - tyranny, checks and balances / MLs - participation, enhances RAPPLE)

CLs - originally viewed democracy as tyranny of the maj., so a liberal democracy requires effective checks and balances (e.g.: the Opposition + a constitution) / MLs - participation was crucial, enhances quality of representation, legitimacy, and accountability

classical liberal thinkers - Locke - main ideas (foundation, divine right to rule?, natural society, progress)

laid the foundation for liberalism / denied the medieval principle of divine right to rule + monarchies / natural society with natural laws / people capable of progress

classical liberal thinkers - Wollstonecraft - main ideas (rational, formal education = develop, pro-revs, truly liberal society)

women are rational too / formal education needed to develop rationality and morality / pro-American and French Revolutions / society can’t be liberal unless women are too

all liberal thinkers - Mill - main ideas (harm, utilitarianism, DI)

harm principle / utilitarianism - we all have some responsibility to help the poorest in society / developmental individualism

modern liberal thinkers - Rawls - main ideas (book advocates for, difference principle, enabling)

Rawls / Theory of Justice book - advocates for a welfare state / Difference Principle concept - social justice needed while maintaining a meritocracy / enabling state concept

modern liberal thinkers - Friedan - main ideas (book, formal equality, social justice)

wrote The Feminist Mystique / pro-formal equality for women / pro-social justice in order to achieve equality of opportunity

classical liberal thinkers - human nature (L = positive view, enlightenment thinkers, rational + concerned / W - mind quote, improvement of m + r)

Locke - positive view (inspired by enlightenment thinkers like Kant) , we’re rational, guided by self-interest but also mindful of others’ concerns / W - women also rational (‘the mind has no gender’), could improve morality and rationality as we lived

all liberal thinkers - human nature (Mill - will, rational, I, harm)

Mill - free will, rationalism, and individualism, harm principle - able and willing to care about others’ own liberties

modern liberal thinkers - human nature (R - rational + altruistic, DI / F - women just as rational, illiberal attitudes)

Rawls - rational but also empathetic (so we’re altruistic), people choose a society where the poorest are helped (developmental individualism - want to help each other grow and be free) / Friedan - women just as rational, not HN that limits women but the patriarchy + illiberal attitudes

classical liberal thinkers - the state (L = rational, trusted, social contract, purpose quote / W = equality, anti-monarchy, fragmented power, revs.)

Locke - rational and mindful, so can be trusted to elect a good govt., state should be representative and have consent to be legitimate (social contract), ‘the purpose of the govt. is to protect liberty, life, and property’ / Wollstonecraft - state has to ensure gender equality, anti-monarchy and pro-fragmented power, supported Enlightenment revolutions

modern liberal thinkers - the state (Rawls + enabling, eq. of opp., merit = social justice / Friedan + positive liberty, interventionist for women)

Rawls - enabling state = true equality of opportunity, meritocracy = unequal outcomes, so social justice needed for formal equality / Friedan - state had to ensure freedom of rights especially for women (positive liberty), interventionist state needed for women

classical liberal thinkers - society (L - predates, natural society, atomism / W - self-improvement, women equal for true liberalism)

Locke - society predates the state, natural society with natural laws (due to our rational + moral HN), atomistic society / Wollstonecraft - society could improve itself through self-advancement and education, meritocracy (which include women), women had to be equal to create a truly liberal society

all liberal thinkers - society (Mills - atomistic, capable of growth)

M - society is atomistic, made up of individuals, society can progress since we’re capable of growth

modern liberal thinkers - society (Rawls - individuals, empathetic, DI / F - gender inequality caused by)

Rawls - society is made up of individuals but individuals are cooperative and empathetic, developmental individualism = help each other / F - illiberal attitudes in society caused gender inequality

classical liberal thinkers - the economy (L = natural right to property, anti-tax, LFC, arbitration + W = anti-inheritance, economic independence)

Locke - state should respect the ‘natural right’ to private property, anti-high taxes, laissez-faire capitalism, state’s only role in the economy is to arbitrate between competing individuals / Wollstonecraft - criticised inherited wealth (pro-equality of opportunity), greater economic independence for women

modern liberal thinkers - the economy (R = welfare, spending + progressive, democratic socialist economies, quote on helping less fortunate)

Rawls - welfare state, believed in public spending and progressive taxation, democratic socialist economies = only moral ones, ‘naturally advantaged… help the less fortunate’

liberalism 24 marker essay structure - overview

intro - 3 paragraphs - conclusion / state agreement/disagreement - outline what the strand believes in - key thinker (in depth) - contrast and repeat - overall significance of agreement/disagreement / can be on 6 principles or 4 themes

liberalism 24 marker essay structure - intro + concl. tips

I - first sentence = final judgement (e.g.: fundamentally divided), then acknowledge strands/signpost points, last sentence = principle beliefs are the same, but MLs have developed the key ideas of CLs to better suit modern society / C - acknowledge agreement in the core principles (particularly in HN for e.g.), but mainly disagree in how liberalism should be implemented in practice, reiterate points, therefore…

liberalism 24 marker essay structure - key phrases (for AO3)

fundamentally divided / agreement in principle, but significant disagreement in practice

reminder of the core strands

state is a necessary evil / freedom/liberty / individualism / rationalism / social justice/equality of opportunity / liberal democracy