Liberalism

What is egotistical individualism?

• Individuals are driven by self interest and seek self realisation, self determination and self fullfilment

• Mary Wollastonecroft- Woman want all of those thing

• John Locke argues that everyone seeks those three things

How are humans rational?

• Humans are self centered however are thoughtful and empathetic

• They are guided by reason and logic

• If we dont respect others then they wont respect us

• Locke and Mill- our behaviour is egotistical but rational

How are Humans progressive?

• Human nature progresses over time through improved knowledge and greater understanding of the world

• Developmental Individualism- Mill, humans are more developed now as they have more education (education is important in society)

How are humans optimistic?

• Rejects the idea of original sin and offer a positive view on human nature

• Human nature can increase human happiness

• Overcome difficulty through rational thinking

• Locke- life isn’t flawed from birth via original sin

What is a natural society?

• Rawls- peaceful, voluntary interaction of multiple individuals

• Society predates the state and is not dependent on it

• Locke- peaceful state of nature

• Due to mankinds rationality, natural society worked well

What is a tolerant society?

• Without a tolerant society, self realization is impossible

• Mill- state should tolerate all actions and opinions unless they coincide with the ‘Harm Principle’

• Individuals wil rely on societies

What is an individualistic society?

• A society where individuals can pursue self realisation and self determination

• Liberal politicians need to create an indivdualistic society

• Wollstonecraft- natural rights belong to both men and women

• Locke- worried about religous non- conformists

• Friedan- worried about women and LGBTQ

What do classical liberals think about individualism?

• Egotistical Individualism- humans are sel interested and self reliant

• Society is a collection of self interested individuals (atomism)

• Humans are driven by selfish needs however are rational so make their own decisions

What do modern liberals think about Individualism?

• Developmental Individualism- prioritises huan development over satisfying immediate needs

• individualism is moderated by social responsibility

• focuses more on indiviual potential

• liberals think this is due to the consequences of unrestrained capitalism

• atomism was morally naive

What do classical liberals think about freedom (liberty)

• Negative Freedom- absence of external constraints

• liberty can be mximised if clear limits are placed on law and government

• allows individuals to go their own way

• support minimal state and laissez faire

• Mill- people should pursue their own interests as long as it doesn’t harm others

What do modern liberals think about freedom (liberty)?

• Concerns about negative freedom due to the unrestrained pursuit of property which causes poverty and injustice

• Rawls- argues society should be organised under distributive justice

• help individuals to help themselves

• Positive Freedom- freedom is the ability of the individual to develop and achieve individuality

How do liberals agree over freedom (liberty)?

• Society should allow maximum freedom for all to allow individuals to flourish

What do all liberals think about the state?

• the state is necessary but has a potential for evil

• based on social contract theory

• state can serve a useful role of society

What do classical liberals think about the state?

• Minimal state which is used to prevent harm but still allows liberty to flourish (nightwatchmen state)

• free and rational individuals need nothing but a small state

• Mill’s harm principle- minimal restriction on individual freedom, only to prevent harm from others

What do modern liberals think about the state?

• Enabling state- promoting wider freedom in society

• comitment to developmental individualism and positive freedom

• state needs to recognise its role to allow society to flourish

• Welfare state (Beveridge report)

• the state should reduce circumstances that disadvantage individuals to create equal life chances

• Rawls- education, healthcare and justice for distributive justice

What do Classical liberals think about the economy?

• Adam Smith argues the economy does best when left alone, economy is a market

• Due to self interested individuals, relationships between employers and employees are voluntary

• capitalism will lead to general benefit

• The market is self regulating

What do modern liberals think about the economy?

• Reject self regulating economy, market is flawed and will lead to inequality

• Capitalist economies don’t guarantee prosperity

• Keynesianism economics- gov can encourage demand through economic and tax policy (deliver full employment)

• unemployment can be solved through government intervention

What do all liberals think about the economy?

• They all believe in private property

• They all want Capitalism (just different forms)

What do all liberals think about rationalism?

• All humans use their reason and logic

• Humans progress through using rational logic

What do classical liberals think about rationalism?

• Human nature is based on rationality

• Atomistic approach is where humans thrive

• Each individual is the best judge of their own interests, this role cannot be fulfilled by any other body

What do modern liberals think about rationalism?

• Agree that rationalism is the basis of human nature

• rational individuals will intervene if they see a person in trouble, anticipating that the favour will be returned

• The good of the individual is tied to the good of the whole community

What do all liberals think about equality?

• Everyone is born equal (foundational equality)

• Liberals want equality of opportunity (Meritocracy)

What do classical liberals think about equality?

• Equality of opportunity is the right to rise or to fall

• A minimal state and laissez faire provides the conditions for equal opportunity for everyone

• Social Dawinism- those individuals suited best to survive will rise to the top

• inequalities of wealth, social position and political power are the consequences of one’s actions and the government should not interfere

What do modern liberals think about equality?

• equality of opportunity is flawed

• those born in poverty or a lack of education are unable to rise up through society

• want to create a fair society through improving people's life chances

• meritocratic society can only exist when all are given an equal chance to rise or fall

• Rawls ‘veil of ignorance’- if we have no knowledge of who you are you would wish you were them so that no one was worse off

What are John Rawl’s views?

• Views developed from the English revolution and emphasises natural rights

• government should protect rights and enlarge freedom

• God gave Earth to all but hard work can result in private gain

• social contract theory and the state of nature

• People should be subject of law by choice and government shouldn’t use force to change people’s views

What are Mary Wollstonecraft’s views?

• wants equal rights for both men and women

• women should be viewed as human

• men and women are both rational and should therfore be equal

• women need to become psychologically independant to become rational

• wanted to increase access of education for women as they are uneducated and were therefore incapable of defending their rights

What are John Stuart Mill’s views?

• government can only reduce liberties due to the harm principle

• aristocracy and monarchy could threaten liberty

• representative democracy is best, didn’t like universal suffrage and believes that those with more knowledge should have more votes (tyranny of the majority)

What are John Rawls views?

• wants equal rights and equality of opportunity

• liberty for all is more important than the prosperity of society

• capitalist economy with stronge institutions would result in a fair and just society

• rational individuals should advocate an unequal society

• ‘different principle’ would improve the position of those worst off because they may be in that position

• inequality is okay as long as everyone has had a chance