Liberalism Individuals

John Locke

Classical liberal

Limited government, foundational equality(equal right and moral worth born with), social contract, natural rights.

No one is above the rule of law, including the government. Resis/revolt if rule of law is broken. Shown in his book 2 treaties on government. This was also the beggining of limited government

Natural rights existed before creation of the state, so they must be protected under the idea that it was potentially perfect before the state.

Life, liberty and property ownership were locke's natural rights- if not upheld, legitimacy broken, so revolt

Also belived in tolerance of different beliefs eg. Glorious revolution 1688.

Also belived in rationalisy in the sense that no rational person would agree with government rule unless it protected national rights

Locke believed the state should work toward a happier life, as seen in the potential of life being pleasant before state

Mary Wollstonecraft

Vindication of the rights of women

Formal equality

Equality of oppurtunity for all, specifically women, who should be able to enjoy full civil liberties to be free

Rationalism- women are rational

Supporter reveloutions-

Capitalism

Positive freedom

Right to private life

Belived education should be extended to all to provide more freedom- key to achieving formal equality, as well as self worth and potential

Both men and women should be able to choose domestic/career pursuits as it helps gain self respect and potential

Women should be allowed in workforce and polticics because it is good for the work force, economic growth and political innovation

Marital equality must be achieved to create good citizens-partnership of equals

She supported the French reveloution

J.S.Mill

Middle man between classic and modern

Developmental liberalism

Tolerance

Utilitarianism

Negative liberty

Individuals should be free to do anything except harm others- harm principle

Interesting: he belived that individuals were the best placed in knowing what was best for their own best interests, but disagreed that the pursuit of pleasure and pain avoidance was the sole motivation in human beings. He thoughts that the betterment of human civilisation was also important.

Harm principle- on liberty, distinction made between action affecting only the individual(self-regaeding) vs others as well (other regarding)

Self regarding would be personal beliefs expression that the state had bo buisness interfering in, but other stuff they did. Strictly limited government virwe, minimal state, maximum liberty.

Engine of ongoing human development: developmental individualism on what humans would become

Later modified his view that some intervention was necessary so the poor had some levels of provision

Income charged at flat rate, inheritance tax agreed on

Was concerned by tyranny of the majority brought about by universal suffrage but championed for men and women’s equal rights

Wanted to be able to express minority views

John Rawls

Modern liberal- theory of justice

Society must guarantee each individual a life worth living

Difference in outcomes for rich and poor should be minimum in a fair society

Redistribution of wealth via an enabling state would lead to greater social and economic equality (extensive spending, progressive tax)

Humans would choose fair principles for both discrimination and resources allocation within generations’s/societies

Would choose 2 general principles for justice:

Principle of equal liberty: equal right to all liberties and equal oppurtunity

Difference principle: social and economic inequalities should be arranged to benefit the least advantaged and should be attached to positions that are open to all under conditions of qual oppurtunity.

Difference principle is somewhat meritocracy because there can be different rewards for different jobs as long as it fulfills the criteria of: having net betterment of society(eg. Better living standards) , and not being discriminatory due to unimportant criteria (eg. Race)

Merit principle stops this from being socialist

Does not permit institutions that make life better for advantaged but nothing for disadvantaged

He did want a wage gap, and did argue that people wanted to better themselves thru income inequality

Betty Friedan

The feminine mystique - New

Foundational equality

Advocate of freedom

Liberty for women

Belived conditioning in culrtual chanels led to women becoming housewives: in school, at home, online, religion etc. Believed this conditioning made women irrational

Belived they were rational and independent and wanted to reform society through legal procedures. Belived they were of equal worth and equal rights

Liked us constitution as it allowed continual improvement, was not a radical feminist (liberal Constitutionalism)

Also belived women denied own desires for familial harmony, bored at home

Societally, they stunted women’s growth wasted massive potential and caused dissatisfaction

Wanted their problems to be defined as broad and structural and for self-assertation