key thinkers of liberalism

John Locke 1632-1704 (classical)

human nature

• Human Beings are rational, guided by the pursuit of self-interest, but mindful of others' concerns

state

• The state must be representative, based on the consent of the governed

• social contract theory

  • The government should be reliant on consent from voters, rather than imposed on them from above. individuals choose to leave the State of Nature and give up some of their individual powers to the government

  • Individuals are rational and therefore believe that it is in their own best interests to consent to a government.

• Limited government

  • government should be limited and based on consent from below 

  • People can remove this consent at any point if the social contract is broken

society

• Society predates the state: there were 'natural' societies with natural laws and natural rights

economy

• State policy should respect the 'natural right' to private property and arbitrate individuals competing for trade and resources

Mary Wollstonecraft 1759–97 (classical)

human nature

• Believed both men and women are rational

• The rights of men and women should be equal, as they are equal in the eyes of God 

  • Her religious references distinguish her from other liberal thinkers, who reject religion

state

• The monarchical state should be replaced by a republic which enshrines women's rights

society

• Society 'infantilised' women and thus stifled female individualism and denied them individual freedom and formal equality

economy

• A free-market economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women

J.S Mill 1806-1873 (bridge between classical/modern)

human nature

• Through fundamentally rational, human nature is not fixed: it is forever progressing to a higher level.

state

• The state should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights

• harm principle

society

• The best society was one where 'individuality' co-existed with tolerance and self-improvement

• tolerance

  • Society must not force its opinions on others unless they are certain of its truth - instead there must be debate and discussion

  • This allows questioning of beliefs and innovation, requiring tolerance of the views of others

economy

• Laissez-faire capitalism vital to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative.

John Rawls 1921-2002 (modern)

human nature

• Mankind is selfish yet empathetic, valuing both individual liberty and the plight of those around them

state

• The state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance, via public spending and public services.

• An enlarged state, w higher taxation and wealth redistribution is consistent w the liberal idea of government by consent  

society

• The society most individuals would choose would be one where the condition of the poorest improved

economy

• Free-market capitalism should be tempered by the state's obligation to advance its poorest citizens

Betty Friedan 1921-2006 (modern)

human nature

• Human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self-advancement among women

state

• The state should legislate to prevent continued discrimination against female individuals.

society

• Society remained chauvinistic (showing prejudice towards their own sex) towards women, though women were complicit (acting unlawfully) in their repression.

economy

• Free-market capitalism could be an ally of female emancipation, if allied to legalisation precluding sexual discrimination.