Social Studies 30-2: unit 1

Rule of law

The idea that law itself and not in individual has the greatest power and that all individuals are subject to the law.

Competition

The struggle among two or more people or groups for an economic, social, or political advantage. Supporters of a free-market economy see competition as incentive for individuals and groups to work harder and more efficiently

Democracy

A political system in which the people have the power to make or influence government decisions directly or indirectly through search processes as free elections

Economic freedom

The ability of individuals to act freely as consumers and producers with it economic system

Individual rights and freedoms

The rights associated with personal liberty, such as freedom of religion and of association, and the right to life, liberty, and the security of the person; A key value of individualism and an important feature of liberal democracies

Individualism

An ideology that values the rights and freedoms of the individual, often negatively affecting the harmony of the group.

Liberalism

An ideology based on the importance of individual liberty and the values of individualism (including individual rights and freedoms, self-interest, competition, economic freedom, rule of law, and private property) and government control for the harmony of society.

Private property

Material possessions, including land, that are owned by an individual or group. That writes to private property and its protection or central values of liberalism.

Self interest

One's personal interest or advantage; seeking to satisfy one's own needs

Social contract

An understanding (written or non-written) whereby each individual of a society agrees to be governed so that he or she may gain the benefits of living in that society. (For example, by having access to protection and economic opportunities)

Beliefs

Ideas and understandings that a person believes in, often influenced by such things as one's culture, language, religion, gender, and worldview

Capitalism

An economic system based where the government does not interfere with the economy and lets the citizens decide what is right and wrong. There is usually lots of private property and monopoly.

Collectivism

An ideology that places is the needs and goals of the collective, or group, but not for those of any individual member of the group, and is based on the belief in the government.

Communism

And ideology based on the believe that the oppressed working class must overcome it's poverty-owning oppressors through revolution, so that together they can work towards becoming a classless society in which property is owned by the community and all people share in the production of goods and in the benefits of production (at which point, in theory, no government is needed).

Ideological spectrum

A diagram and which ideologies can be organized according to a particular set of criteria, such as the extent to which they emphasize collectivism or individualism, which appear on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Ideology

A system of thought based on believes and values that include ideas about how the world works, how we should live together as a society, and what society could become in the future.

Individualism

An ideology that values the rights and freedoms of the individual, which negatively affects the harmony of the group.

Values

The ideas and understandings that the people hold to be important or fundamental to who they are as individuals or as members of a group, often influenced by such things as one's culture, language, religion, and gender.

Worldview

A collection of believes about life in the universe held by individual or group; the lens through which the world is viewed by an individual or group; the overall perspective from which the world is interpreted.

Personal identity

The idea you have of yourself as a unique individual. Traits that you think of that distinguishes you from others.

Collective identity

Trait shared with other members of a larger social group. Example: people who share similar traits such as language, faith, cultural, or ethnicity)

ideology

How an individual views society and how it should function. This can affect their actions.

Collectivism and individualism

Generally speaking ideologies of collectivism place the needs of the collective, or group, before those of any individual member of the group. Ideologies of individual, however the value the individual about the whole group.

Individualist ideologues value

Individual rights, freedoms from the government, and from collective restrictions. Autonomy, self interest, personal achievement, and self reliance.
The foundation of western liberal democracy and capitalism.

Principles of individualism (PICES)

Private property, individual rights and freedoms, competition, economic freedoms, self-interest.

Fascism

A dictatorship that includes extreme militaristic nationalism. Rejects the ideas of both liberal democracy and communism or socialism. An extreme collectivist, freedom in economics but not their individual rights.

Socialism

Any idea is based on the belief that collectivist values, such as collective responsibility, collective interest, cooperation, economic equality, adherence to collective norms, and public property, should be the foundation for political, economic, and social life. This is in the middle of the spectrum.

Thomas Hobbies

Extreme Collectivist: Human nature is bad, so leaving humans alone would cause war and death. By having a government control the rights and freedoms of individuals, they can control human nature.

John Locke

Extreme Individualist: People are good, and by freeing society from the government, they could better society on their own. He also promoted a representative democracy (the government was there to promote the liberty, life, and property of their citizens), where citizens could pick a leader through votes.

J.J Rousseau

Collectivist: Humans are good, but society makes them bad. Humans should be free from society and work together, collectively, to achieve a better life. They may have to give up their rights and freedoms, but they may also work together to overthrow an oppressive government.

John Stuart Mill

Both an individualist and collectivist (more individualist): Humanity was good and they would improve and progress without a suppressive government, individuals could do what they wanted as long as it wasn’t against the law, and the government (voted by citizens) was there to insure humanity and safety in their nation instead of being suppressive and defaming individualism. ,