Studied by 31 people
what was the natural form of government during the enlightenment?
the natural form of government was a absolute monarchy where the monarch expresses absolute power over the people as Gods representative
how did liberalism challenge the church?
liberalism challenged the principal of the original sin, it is linked to protestantism, arguing the importance of the individual
what revolutions are linked to liberalism?
the French revolution, American war of independence, the English civil war
what two forms of liberalism are there and during what dates were they in?
classical liberalism which began spreading during the early 17th century and remained until the first world war onwards where modern liberalism began
where does liberalism derive from?
liberalism derives from the enlightenment during the late 17th century and early 18th century
what are the five themes we must study for each political ideology?
different types, society, economy, state and human nature
define human nature?
human nature is the natural way that humans are
define a tolerant society?
where people tolerate each other and their actions
what do liberals see as the role of the state within peoples lives?
classical liberals believe in minimal role for the state as it has the propensity to restrict individual liberty
modern liberals believe in a more interventionist role for the state in order to ensure that everyone has the same life chances
what do debates around society include for liberals?
classic liberals believe that society is a body of self reliant individuals but modern liberals believe that they can work together for the greater good of society
define the state?
the state is a body that helps govern a country
what is the debate for liberals surrounding the economy?
they debate on wether there should be a free market economy or if there should be lots of state intervention in the economy
define radical politically?
when there is a want to change the fundamental principles of a society or political system through form such as revolution
define radical politically?
humans naturally seek to advance their own happiness and interests, involves self-restraint and cooperation as they want their rights respected so they must respect the rights of others
why is liberalism radical in terms of gender?
since liberals believe that women also have rights and liberty that should be protected under the state
define negative liberty?
where liberty is the absence of restraint, people are free to do anything they want and the state can only intervene if it harms others
who argued for a night watchman state?
John Locke
define night watchman state?
when the state must act only to protect the peace, safety and public good of the people, according to john locke
what is the harm principal?
where people are free to act as they wish unless it harms others
which thinker is linked to negative liberty?
isaiah berlin
what book was written by john locke?
two treatises of government - 1690
what did locke argue surrounding freedom?
that humans are not naturally under any form of government or authority and are naturally free
what is the state of nature?
humanity before the existence of the state and is a peaceful existence, not of war
why does locke support a minimal state?
since he lived during the american war of independence where they broke away from tyrannical rulers and developed their own more liberating form of government
what did locke argue regarding the state of nature?
that humans are naturally free, equal and have natural rights of life liberty and self-fulfilment. additionally he believed that there would be clashes of interest an therefore go into a social contract to resolve these clashes
what is a social contract?
when there is a contract between the people and the government where they agree to their laws and to be governed by them
why does a state exist?
the state exists in order to protect the natural rights of people
why is consent important in the creation of a state?
consent is important so that the state is not a tyrannical source of power and instead agreed by the people to govern
what was the perfect example of a good revolution and state?
for many liberals the American revolution was the perfect example of this
what is constitutionalism?
government must be legally limited in its powers by a constitution in order to protect freedom
who should the state represent?
the state should directly represent the will of property owning individuals
define authority?
the right exercise power
define fiduciary power?
the state holds its power in trust and must act in the interests of and for the benefit of the people, otherwise the social contract is invalid
what book was written by mary wollstonecraft?
a vindication of the rights of women - 1792
what is the concept of formal equality?
the concept that all individuals are entitled to the same legal rights and same political rights and these rights are laid out in a bill of rights
what were the key arguments of mary wollstonecraft?
she primarily argued for the rights of women to education and owning property as it would allow for a truly liberal state
what does wollstonecraft argue that women should be given protection against?
she argues that women should be given protection against domestic violence
what is wollstonecraft a key opponent of?
custom and tradition formed by the divine rights of kings and the ruling aristocracy
define republicanism?
a state, usually a democracy, without a monarch
define the divine rights of kings?
the belief that the monarch was directly appointed by God and therefore could not be subjected to human rules and was above others
what did john stuart mill write in 1859?
On liberty
what is negative freedom?
a concept of liberty as means an absence of constraint, described by isaiah berlin as freedom from rather than freedom to
according to mill, what is the law justified to do?
preventing actions that harm the freedom of others
in mills writings what is the link between liberty and education?
he believes that true liberty includes the freedom of educating yourself which develops you
according to mills, what drives progress?
liberty
why was education so important to mills?
since he believed it had the ability to drive progress of society forward
what are the lower and higher pleasures?
lower - those of the body such as eating and drinking
higher pleasures - of the mind
what did mill declare that he would rather be?
socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied
what should limit a government according to mill?
the harm principle
define tyranny of the majority?
where the majority would infringe on the individualism of the minority by voting only for their own narrow minded interests
what is the link between education and universal suffrage?
if a person was educated they would be able to make the best possible decisions for oneself through representatives
why does mill argue for elected representatives rather than direct democracy?
since they would not follow the will of the majority
define hedonism?
the belief that pleasure is. the highest good and the aim of any human
why is mill linked to individualism?
since he strongly believed in the uniqueness of the individual and that freedom was needed to help them develop
what is one reason why democracy is compatible with liberalism?
democracy through regular, free and fair elections creates government by consent, a crucial principle of traditional liberalism
write down one reason why democracy is incompatible with liberalism?
democracy may lead to the tyranny of the majority and universal suffrage should go hand in hand with universal education
who does locke argue should have a say in how the country is run?
why does mills take issue with democracy?
do you agree or disagree that liberalism is compatible with democracy?
i agree that is is compatible in some areas
why does modern liberalism emerge?
through the great wars people see the need for the government to have more involvement in society
define positive freedom?
the freedom of having choices and capability
define development individualism?
where they believe in the positive role of the state and the want for an enabling state
what did thomas hill green argue?
how did the role of the state change as a result of modern interpretations of the state?
define welfare state?
where the state takes care of those in hard times through grants , pension, and other forms of benefits
what is equality of opportunity?
where every individual has the same access to opportunities
what did keynesianism argue?
governments should solve problems in the short run rather than wait for market forces to fix things over the long run
what does modern liberalism argue in terms of minorities?
they want them to have the same rights and opportunities as others and that they should be equally protected under the state
what is positive discrimination?
what does liberalism argue in terms of toleration?
which groups have been historically discriminated against?
women, African Americans/black people, homosexual and transgender people
why is inequality justified in liberal societies?
since if everyone is given the same opportunity some people are able to use that to a fuller extent than others
what book was written by thomas hill green?
the principles of political obligation - 1895
how should freedom be understood from the viewpoint of green?
what should individuals rise above? why?
what needs to be removed to achieve positive freedom according to green?
what should the state take a more positive role towards?
what book did betty friedan write and when?
the feminine mystique in 1963
what is the ‘problem that has no name’
the widespread unhappiness of woman as a result of being housewives
what limits womens development?
the lack of education and the binding hold of marriage and expectation of motherhood
what does friedan argue women need to set them free?
what does friedan argue in ‘the second stage’?
the need of changes to public values, social institutions etc
what must the state do to battle gender inequality?
they need to grant formal equality and intervene with gender inequality
what action can a state put in place to end gender inequality?
granting state benefits to non married women so they have equal opportunity to compete in the job market
what book was written by john rawls?
a theory of justice in 1971
define foundational equality?
the belief we are all born equal
what is the original position?
scenario forcing us to think of what we would do if totally unbiased
define the ‘veil of ignorance’?
moral reasoning device to promote impartial decision making
why is the enabling state consistent with government by consent?
perceived fairness of how rewards and costs are shared by a group
what is distributive justice?
who wrote the road to serfdom?
friedrich hayek
what was F.A. Hayeks criticism of modern liberalism?
their idea of social justice
which leaders have been closely associated with neo-liberalism?
margaret tatcher, ronald reagan, boris johnson and donald trump
why is neo-liberalism seen as conservative?
because it is reactionary
what are the key aspects of neo-liberalism?
to reapply the economic ideas of free-market capitalism and to campaign for a night-watchman state
define collectivism?
general togetherness
what is individualism?
the emphasis in individual rights and being independent
what are the natural rights locke argues people should have?
the right to property , freedom and self fulfilment
what is a core liberal value?
the belief in freedom
under what conditions do liberals believe humans flourish?
Note 
Flashcard (54)