Liberalism key terms

The enlightenment

An 18th century movement that rejected traditional, social and political ideas

Individualism

Stress the importance of the individual over the claims of any social group or collective body

Egotistical individualism (egoism)

Human beings are naturally self interested

Developmental individualism

State intervention is necessary to create a society in which each person can grow and flourish

Tolerance

A natural right that everyone should have

Freedom is

The most important liberal value

Freedom must be exercised under the law in order to…

Protect people from interfering in each others rights

Negative freedom

Individuals should only be subject to the state when their actions can potentially harm others

Positive freedom

Individuals should be able to control their own destinies to develop personal talents and reach self fulfilment, some state intervention is needed for this

Enabling state

States act to give real freedom to all, equality of opportunity is needed to be fully free

Constitutionalism

A constitution is needed to protect fundamental rights from states

What did Lord Acton say about power?

Power tends to cost and absolute power corrupts absolutely

Rationalism

People can think for themselves as they are rational thinkers

Rationalism in action

Competition can cause debate, but reasoned debate should settle it, war is only ever a last resort (internationalist- work with other countries)

Everyone should have the same

Legal and political rights

What do liberals prefer over aristocracy

Meritocracy

For as legitimate government, consent of the people is needed

There is a social contract people people and their rulers

Social contract

The government is obliged to listen to people, if they don’t do it properly then the people can hold them to account

What do people have the right to do against the government

Rebel

Positive view of human nature

Tolerance of different values, customs and beliefs are at the core

Mechanist theory

The state was created to serve and act in the interests of people

The economy

Believe in free market capitalism, but some state intervention may be needed to limit injustice from large scale poverty and unemployment

Classical liberalism

Earliest form of liberalism, associated with the rise of industrial capitalism in the 18th and 19th centuries

Modern liberalism

Emerged in the early 20th century in reaction to the growth of free-market capitalism

Core principles of classical liberalism

• Freedom over other values

• Freedom is best achieved by restricting the power of government

• Negative freedom

• Nightwatchmen state

Core principles of modern liberalism

• regulating the marketing order to counter excessive deprivation and inequality

• Enabling state

• Positive freedom

Night watchmen state

Limited government intervention, just there to protect fundamental rights

Who are the key modern liberal thinkers?

Rawls, Friedan

Who are the key classical thinkers?

Locke, Mill

Who fought for equality to be translated for women as well?

Wollstonecraft