liberalism ideology

what is liberalism?

- a political philosophy or worldview founded on ideas of liberty and equality

- developing since the 1700s

- response to the breakdown of feudal (hierarchical) society

- challenged absolutism of those at the top of the hierarchy

key principles and ideas

- people are born equal and should have equality of opportunity to pursue their full potential

- government by consent

- toleration

- political system based on meritocracy

- negative liberty - absolutely autonomous , can act without structural or communal restraints

- atomistic society - no collective identity instead a bunch of self interested individuals

written core ideas and principles

- individualism

- state (jl)

- rationalism (mw)

- freedom/liberty (jsm)

- equality (bf)

- liberal democracy

what are the two strands of liberalism?

classical and modern

who are the classic liberalism key thinkers?

john lock and mary wollstonecraft

who are the modern liberalism key thinkers

john stuart mill, john rawls and betty friedan

classical liberals human nature

- People should only be restricted if they risk threatening the freedom of others (negative freedom)

- humans are rational and capable of achieving good

classical liberals on the state

- small government

- equality in law

- government by consent

- mechanistic thory - the gov serves the people

classical liberals on society

- Downplay the importance of society

- A collection of individuals, pursuing their own interests.

- Advocate meritocracy- in success resulting from hard work

- Importance of foundational equality and formal equality (legal & political rights) - mary wollstonecraft, formal equality

- equality of opportunity

- role of women is essential - equality

classic liberals on the economy

- right to private property (esp locke)

- free market economy

will benefit from womens involvement (woll)

- laisssez faire capitalism (mill)

modern liberals on human nature

- More conscious of social injustice, and favour some state intervention to counter this (positive freedom)

- humans are rational

- people naturally want to support those in need (rawls)

- humans are not naturally good but they have the potential to develop to be good - selfish but empathetic (rawls)

- hn has discouraged the advancement of women (friedan)

mordern liberals on state

- larger gov needed to ensure a fairer start for poorer/disadvantaged people

- equality in law and also social and political rights (rawls and friedan)

- gov by consent

- mechanistic theory, gov serves the people and needs a broader role to do so (rawls and friedan)

modern liberals on society

- Some state intervention may be required to achieve true freedom and provide a platform for all to succeed in.

- Equality of opportunity through (minimal) state intervention to reduce inequality (rawls)

- foundational equality through difference principle (rawls)

modern liberals on the economy

- State intervention is necessary to promote sustainable growth and limit injustice from unemployment and poverty

John Locke

- 17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.

- enlightenment sort of era

- french revolution sort of era

- writing at a time of christian religious persecution

- father of liberalism

john locke spec / main ideas

- social contract theory - society state and goc are based on a theoretical voluntary argument

- limited gov - limited and based on consent from below

john locke on human nature

- positive view of humans

- people are rational and capable of achieving good for themselves and society

- people are not subordinate

- tolerance for religion - no interference. force to change beliefs is irrational

- individual rights

john locke on the state

- limited government - state protects freedom. stateless society means no freedom ("where laws do not exist, man has no freedom")

- gov by consent, they are promoting their own self interest by offering their consent to the state

- consent is given by elections. shown through the absence of social disorder. government is seeking a mandate through elections

- therefore the gov must serve the people (mechanistic theory)

- rational entities recognise individual liberties are best protected by the state

- social contract theory, state serves the citizens and citizens must give up freedoms in order to do so. they serve each other (links to gov by consent)

john locke on society

- society predates the state

- natural societies with natural laws and rights

- we are a collection of individuals

john locke on the economy

- great emphasis on property rights

- natural right to property derives from right of ones labour

- state policy should reflect the natural right to private property

- "the chief end of people placing themselves under government is the preservation of property"

- lockes understanding of property encapsulates life liberty and estate

mary wollstonecraft

- vindication of the rights of women

- classical liberal

- 18th century

- writing at a time where women had no legal or political rights

- inspired by french revolution and the enlightenment

- gender is main focus but works are rooted in liberal philosophy

spec on mary wollstonecraft overview

- reason - women are rational and independent beings capable of reason

- formal equality - in order to be free, women need to enjoy full civil liberties and allowed a career

mary wollstonecraft on human nature

- men and women are equally rational

- women are not naturally inferior to men, may appear to be bcs theyve been denied education. this makes women complicit in their subjugation.

- "the mind has no gender"

- society and state implied women arent rational

- marriage must be a partnership of equals, tyranny of the male prevents good citizens. women have no protection against domestic abuse

- people are therefore naturally good

mary wollstonecraft on the state

- monarchical state should be replaced by a republic which enshrines womans rights (french revolution)

- all citizens enjoy equality under the law and be free from discrimination

- formal equality women need to enjoy all civil liberties in order to be free

- state prevents education of women so they are complicit in subjugation and men can be artificially and superficially superior

- gov by consent of all citizens, not just men!!

- wanted female representatives in government

- denying women right to vote meant the state was denying the rights to gov by consent

mary woll on society

- society stifles female individualism

- society infantilises women and makes them seem weak

- society is flawed bcs it undermines women

- equality of opportunity - the choice is important, not the outcome. if women still wanted to be wives and mothers thats okay because they had the option to do something else

mary wollstonecraft on the economy

- Liberated women would boost a free trade economy

- free market

- women need a career so they are not economically dependent on men ("domestic slaves")

- women need the same property rights as men

john stuart mill

- classical liberal

- transitional liberalism (bridge between modern and classical)

- on liberty

- entrench ideas of enlightenment thinkers

- 19th century

- harm principle, free will, despotism of custom experiments in living, utilitarianism and the marketplace of ideas and electoral reform

spec on jsm

- harm principle. individuals should be free to do anything except harm other individuals

- tolerance - belief that the popularity of a view does not necessarily make it correct

jsm on human nature

- we are sovereign entities capable of expressing free will

- against original sin and flawed humanity

- free development of the individual benefits all of society

- fundamentally rational

- liberty is an engine for human development, it is a work in progress, not a finished article (locke)

"he who lets the world choose his plan of life for him has no need of any other faculty than ... imitation"

- developmental individualism, individuals have the potential to become, not what they already have become

- harm principle, encourages self regarding actions

jsm on the state

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

- hearing minority views helps hear good new ideas and identify old bad ones

- limited government

- negative liberty (freedom of interference from others) unless it effects others

- popularity of a view does not make it correct (despotism of custom- the wicked, oppressive and absolute control of tradition, tyranny of the majority)

- state is justifying limiting actions when those actions impinge on freedom of others

- should not tolerate other regarding humans which could include violent behaviour

jsm on society

- harm principle, we should be free to pursue actions that in no way constrain the liberty of others

- despotism of custom crushes self expression

- need to facilitate "experiments in living" so freedom is experienced to the very full

- liberal society is one that tolerates a full diversity of lifestyle

- mediocrity of public opinion - opinions should not be spread unless their ones of true facts

- rejects utilitarianism, majority opinion has no true authority and no certainty e.g. past wisdom no longer holds status

- should have freedom to question societal beliefs therefore

- women are also essential in society !!!! female emancipation

jsm on the economy

- laissez faire capitalism is essential to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative

- property is a prism which individuals develop their potential providing opportunity to develop

- inheritance tax

- trade protectionism

- regulation of work hours

- mandatory education - voucher system for schools and state system of exams so ensure minimum level of learning

john rawls

- 20th century

- a theory of justice

- influenced by experiencing racial segregation in baltimore, military experiences in wwii and social and political events of the 50s and 60s -

- rejects utilitarianism (actions are right if they benefit the majority)

- veil of ignorance

spec on rawls

theory of justice - opinion that society must be just and guarantee each citizen a life worth living

- veil of ignorance - a hypothetical scenario where individuals agree on the type of society they want from a position where they lack knowledge of where they are in society (i.e. your place in society guides your opinion on society. if you are rich you'd want a society that ensures the maintenance of your wealth and status, if you're poor you'd want one of equality, or one where you are not awfully as disadvantaged)

john rawls on human nature

- mankind is selfish yet empathetic

- individual liberty

- freedom should be available to all equally

- humans are selfish and under a veil of ignorance

- possessive individualism - look out for others bcs u would want others to look out for you if you were in that position

john rawls on the state

- The state should enable less fortunate individuals to advance, via public spending and public services.. (promote developmental individualism by helping the poor improve their circumstances)

- rejects small state

- state needs to provide welfare

- veil of ignorance - unaware should select a welfare state they can have if they need it.

rawls on society

- every individual should have equal right to maximum possible liberty without infringing the liberties of others