liberalism: Human nature.

Individualism: AGREE

• intellectual

• primacy of individual

• CL:

  • L: nat rights (born equal, foundation equality)

  • ML: Friedan: campaigned for equal rights

• Mill articulates how both strands believe the individual is very important

  • Individual is sovereign

J.S Mill: “The individual is…..

Sovereign

Individualism: Disagree

How best to flourish

CL on individualism:

• Egotistical individualism (self serving, self seeking)

• Indifferent towards each other

• Atomistic soc

• small role for state (trust and belief in the individual)

ML on individualism:

• Soc not fair and equal, recognize not all can thrive alone → accept social responsibility

• J.Rawls: soc position determines if an individual will thrive

• enabling state

• developmental individualism and EqOp

EVAL individualism

• Tolerance → J.L: religious and political, W&F: women’s rights as individuals, equally rational

• Significant agreement

Positive view: Agree

• optimistic

• foundational equality.

• intellectual

• rational (particularly over external authorities)

  • CL+ML fem: equally rational “mind has no gender”

• state of nature

  • reason + rationalism

  • self interested, share similar, reasonable goals

  • Similar to ML: Rawls veil of ignorance → rationality seek EqOPP

Positive view: Disagree

• accept freedoms under natural rights, differ over how to protect and enhance.

Positive view CL:

• Negative freedom → freedom from constraint

• “nightwatchman state”-Locke

  • trust in people

• Harm principle-Mill

• intellectual

Rawls veil of ignorance

• humans, if give the chance, naturally want a fair soc that protects their rights and freedoms.

• social responsibility and individualism are compatible

Positive view ML:

• Positive freedom

  • prevent exploitation ( economic freedom led to exploitation)

  • Friedan: unchecked HN can lead to gender equality

• state assist individuals to reach full potential

• Rawls: veil of ignorance, humans naturally want a soc where everyone has rights and freedoms. individualism and social responsibility compatible

Positive view: EVAL

• while differ on state involvement, agree that human nature is fundamentally positive

• Seek soc where natural rights and freedoms upheld and individuals have the capacity to flourish

human nature CONC

• Significant agreement

• importance of individual

• share positive view

• differ on how best to enable fulfilment and protect freedoms (state involvment)

• Context: CL- tyranny, authoritarian govs ML- growing social inequality, yet social justice movement post industrial rev

• Both strands draw from the same things to promote their cause highlighting significant agreement