politics - liberalism

liberalism

Who are the main thinkers of liberalism

John Locke, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Hill Green, John Rawls, Betty Freidan

what were John Locke’s main principles

he rejected the divine right of kings

social contract-government by consent

state of nature- natural rights

limited government

mechanistic theory

what were Mary Wollstonecraft main principles

women are happy to be seen as inferior and they only desire marriage and motherhood they should have more education to correct this

all humans including women are rational and guided by reason

individual rights

what were John Stuart Mill’s main principles

negative freedom

development individualism

tolerance/harm principle

human nature is work in progress

feared a democratic state could lead to tyranny of the majority.

what were the main principles of Thomas Hill Green

Positive liberty

rejected the egotistical view of human nature

claiming humans are motivated by a desire to promote the common good

state should still prioritise individual liberty

what were the main principles of John Rawls

redistribution of wealth via an enabling state, extensive public spending and progressive taxation

rational people would choose society where the poorest members benefitted from society

government by consent- if inequalities are reduced by higher taxation individuals would support this

while conditions of the poor should improve- the gap between the poorest and richest would not be narrowed ensuring liberation is separate to socialism

what were Betty Freidan’s main principles

individualism

liberal attitudes rather than human nature condemned women to underachievement encouraged by ‘cultural change’ such as schools, religion and media

favoured liberal constitutionalism- state should legislate to prevent discrimination against women

what does egotistical human nature mean

Humans are allowed certain rights including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of self fulfilment

humans are driven by egotistical individualism (self-interest)

humans seek: self realisation (discovery of our true selves), self-determination (masters of our own fate) and self-fulfilment (fully utilise our natural rights)

if these are denied then humans are left demoralised and de-energised

Freidan, Locke

what does rational human nature mean

-we may be egotistical but our behaviour is also rational and respectful to others

-Guided by logic and reason rather than emotion and impulse

-if we do not respect others in their pursuit of self-realisation then others may not respect us

-John Locke, John Stuart Mill

what does progressive human nature mean

-argue human nature is not set in stone. it is constantly progressing and developing

-developmental individualism - individuality - focuses on what individuals could become

John Stuart Mill

what does optimistic human nature mean

-Reject the idea of original sin which insists that humanity in innately flawed and inclined to fail

-argue humans have capacity to effect steady progress and increase human happiness

-through rational discussion and debate, solutions will be found to problems

-John Locke

what is meant by the natural society

-peaceful statue of nature

-society is one which allows for natural rights, natural laws and natural justice

-argue that pre-state life was agreeable and efficient

what is meant by the individualistic society

-legitimate society would be one where the maximum number of individuals can pursue self-realisation

-free from prejudice and discrimination

-concerned with individuals who have minority or underrepresented characteristics

-John Stuart Mill, Mary Wollstonecraft, John Locke, Betty Friedan

what is meant by the tolerant society

-Harm Principle - individuals should be free to do and say anything that does not harm the liberty of other individuals

-John Stuart Mill

what is meant by defence of private property (liberalism and economy)

-Property is a natural right which predates the existence of the state

-Property allows for individualism as it Incentivises individual enterprise which reflects individual’s preferences and provided a sense of independence

-Property is crucial for self-realisation and self determination

-Locke, Mill

defence of capitalism and inequality

-Support for capitalism due to optimistic view of human nature

-Individual wealth and economic success will trickle down to the majority in society

-Unequal outcomes are consistent with meritocratic society

-Mill, Rawls

liberalism & the state

what is meant by rejection of anarchism

• self-determination, self realisation and self-fulfilment are best served by the existence of the state

• insist that the state must meet certain conditions so the individuals are not left worse off than they were in the state of nature

• Locke

what is meant by the rejection of the Pre-enlightenment state

-liberals dismiss the kind of states in the pre-enlightenment era because Liberals believe in consent and social contracts. They reject

• divine right of kings

• monarchical absolutism

• arbitrary power

• Hereditary power

-argue that the above states were morally illegitimate as they do not respect natural rights

Locke

what is meant by the contractual state

-government by consent / consent to be governed ‘government should always be the servant, not master of the people’

-individuals will only contract for a state if there are formal advantages in return

-if those advantages stop, citizens are entitled to stop the contract

john Locke

what is meant by promotion of natural rights

-Main objective of the state is to improve upon rights of individuals present in state of nature- right to life, liberty and property

-liberalism is state- sponsored individualism

-john Rawls, Locke

what is meant by the representative state

-state must include representative bodies such as parliaments that allow rational discussion between representatives of the people who are accountable to the people

-these representatives must demand respect and speak for citizens interests

what is meant by a meritocratic state

-a state must be governed by those who have earned rather than inherited their authority

-contrasting to pre-enlightenment state where hereditary power applied

what is meant by judicial supremacy

-the fragmented power of a liberal state includes unelected judges who may veto the policies of an elected government if they determine some policies cash with a state’s bill of rights

-liberals are weary of parliament sovereignty as they fear it could lead to illiberal ideas

-liberals seek to protect themselves from elective dictatorship and populist government which disregards natural rights

what do classic liberals mean by democratic state

-Locke and mill cautiously support universal suffrage

-Locke disapproved of the vote being given to those without property on the grounds that it would threaten the natural rights of property owners

-Mill feared that if votes were given to the uneducated it could lead to a lack of tolerance towards minorities and the removal of individuality

what do modern liberals mean by democratic state

-Freidan and Rawls support universal suffrage and stress a representative democracy as opposed to direct democracy

-referendums (direct democracy) could lead to tyranny of the majority