Politics all Liberalism Flashcards

add to these as course goes on

what was liberalism a result of?

the breakdown of the feudal system and the growth of a capitalist society

what did liberalism reflect?

the aspirations of the rising middle classes who were beginning to clash with the land owning upper classes and the aristocracy

what did classic? liberals challenge?

the absolute power of the monarchy

what did liberals advocate for instead of an absolute monarchy?

a constitutional and representative government

why did liberals critique the feudal system?

it was unfair as social position was determined by an “accident of birth” and it gave aristocracy privilege that lower classes did not hold

what type of market did liberals advocate for?

am industrialized market that was free from government interference where businesses would pursue profit

how do classic and modern liberals differ in their view of an ideal government?

classic liberals believed in zero government interference in people’s lives, modern believe in having a little government interference in the form of welfare provision and economic management.

what is an absolute monarchy?

the idea that the monarch of the country held all the power in the country

what was the link between rulers and religion in the middle ages?

they ruled by divine right and were appointed into their position by god

what do liberals believe about the individual?

they believe they’re rational humans and they should have as much freedom as possible and they’re all entitled equal legal and political rights. They also believe they should be rewarded in line with their willingness to work and their talent

what 2 principles are liberal societies build upon?

constitutionalism and consent, this is to protect the citizens from government tyranny

why were modern liberals ready to advocate for an interventionist state

capitalism after the feudal system (because of the industrialization) left many people poor, so they wanted the government to give them welfare help/aid

what is individualism?

the belief that the individual is of supreme importance over any social group and that the individual is central to any political decisions/ideologies/theory

what does individualism suggest society should be like?

it should be constructed to benefit the individual and their needs, rights and interests. The individual should be at the heart of any social, political and economic decisions

what is the definition of freedom?

the ability to think or act as one wishes

what did early liberals think of liberty (Aka freedom)

they believed it was a natural right, one that was God given, and was an essential requirement to leading a truly human existence

what does liberty give the individual a chance to do?

the opportunity to pursue their own interests by exercising choice

what aspect of freedom did locke focus on?

he focused on economic freedom or freedom under the law. He also focused on the freedom to own property. He saw private property as the embodiment of individual liberty

how did Mill expand on Locke’s concepts of freedom/liberty?

he focused on the more human aspects of freedom such as freedom of religion, speech and thought. Mill also believed in freedom in the respect that you should be free to develop as an autonomous individual through education

what did Mill call liberty/freedom?

a positive and constructive force because it gave individuals the power to take control of their own lives

what is individuality?

the ability to reach self fulfilment through recognising an individual’s unique qualities that distinguishes them from others

what two types of pleasures did Mill believe in?

higher and lower pleasures. Higher pleasures were those that helped an individual develop themselves and their intellectual, moral and artistic feelings. Lower ones were just pleasure seeking, they didn’t allow self development.

what are liberals opinions on the state?

-they admit that it needs to exist but are still concerned about it
- Thomas Paine called it a “necessary evil”
-it is necessary for an ordered society but it is evil as it could impose upon an individual’s civil liberties

what is the social contract theory?

-the idea that there’s a sort of contract between the state and an individual
-this contract entails that when individual liberties and rights are protected by government, they individuals should follow the laws that this government has set up as payment back to the govt

who came up with the social contract?

Locke

what are they key ideas of Locke’s social contract simplified in relation to the state?

-political authority comes from below (the consent of the people)
-the state is created by citizens themselves
-the state exists to serve the needs and interests of the people
-the individual is more important than society
-society has no fixed social structures

what is the state of nature?

-a state of perfect freedom and equality
-there’s no government, only laws of nature
-it would be a “state of liberty”
-however Locke acknowledged that it wouldn’t be perfect as if someone broke the laws of nature there would be no government or prosecutors to punish them, the victims must enforce the law themselves

what is a limited government?

-one who’s role is limited to protecting “life, liberty and property”
-it has 3 limited functions→ 1)maintaining public order and property, 2) providing defence against external attack (like a war attempt) 3)ensuring that contracts are enforced

who came up with the idea of a limited government?

Locke

who’s responsibility is issues outside of these 3 roles?

the individuals

what’s liberals stance on a capitalist economy?

they support it

why do liberals support a capitalist economy?

1) they believe it plays a key role in upholding individual liberty
2) it creates wealth

what did Locke describe an individual’s fundamental rights as?

life, liberty and property

what does this highlight?

how he believed ownership was fundamental to the human existence and how he believed the right to owning private property was key

what are Locke’s 4 key stipulations in relation to the role of the state in the economy?

1) individuals can’t take something if it involves harming someone else
2) individuals can’t take possession of more than they can use
3) individuals must leave “enough and as good” for others
4)individuals can acquire property by their own labour

what do liberals believe the free market does?

it encourages individuals to make rational choices about how much they work and how they buy, spend, sell and save. They believe the marketplace upholds free choice

what did liberals say about the inequality that capitalism would cause?

they accepted that it would bring some inequality but they believed that this would incentivize individuals

how do classic and modern liberals differ in perceptions of the economy and the state?

-classic liberals believe that the market economy is a vast network of commercial relationships between consumer and producers in which both parties indicate their wishes through prices
-modern liberals don’t like the idea of a self regulating market economy and believe that the economy should be regulated by the government

what is the definition of rationalism?

the idea of basing one’s opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than religion or superstitious notions. Rationalists believe that knowledge flows reason rather than experience

why do liberals believe individuals benefit from freedom?

they believe that humans are guided by reason and are capable of knowing their own minds and making decisions in their own best interest

what did Mary Wallstonecraft believe in in terms of equality?

she believed men and women should be treated equally (feminist queen!😝)

how does rationalism link liberalism to the Enlightenment movement?

-enlightenment was a movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that tried to release humans from their reliance on superstition and focus on reason instead. It advocated for liberty and tolerance, and most importantly, it encouraged the idea that every human is a rational individual who can judge their own interests best

what is the definition of formal equality?

the idea that all individuals have the same legal political rights in society

what do liberals