To what extent are liberals united in their views on human nature

Introduction

Paragraph Focus

• Paragraph 1 = Women

• Paragraph 2 = Rationality

• Paragraph 2 = Indivdualism

Para 1 = Disagreement - Classical

• classical liberals argue that women are just as rational as men

• thinkers such as Wollstonecraft argued that men and women are both equally capable of rationality and reason

• this means that they should be afforded the same educational, political and social rights in order to have equal opportunity to achieve individual liberty in society

Para 1 = Disagreement - Modern

• modern liberals agree and argue that women are just as rational as men

• thinkers such as Friedan argued that women have been helped back in domestic roles due to the belief that fulfilment comes solely from marriage and motherhood

• instead, women should, have the same opportunities as men to pursue personal fulfilment through education, work and political participation

• this would allow women to exercise their rationality to achieve liberty

Para 2 = Agreement - Classical

• classical liberals argue that humans are rational and autonomous

• thinkers such as Mill proposed the harm principle, that people should be free to do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t harm others

Para 2 = Agreement - Modern

• classical liberals agree and argue that humans are rational and autonomous

• thinkers such as Rawls argue that because of humans rationality, in the veil of ignorance, people would choose a state with as little inequality as possible

Para 3 = Disagreement - Classical

• classical liberals argue for egotistical individualism

• thinkers such as Mill view the individual as rational, self reliant and capable of making decision in their own best interest

• they believe that the individual is the best arbiter of what is right of wrong

• as a result the role of state should be limited to protection, any expansion is view as a threat to individual freedom

Para 3 = Disagreement - Modern

• modern liberals disagree and argue for development individualism

• thinkers such as Rawls argue that an enabling state should…

• this means that state intervention would ensure that people have euqality of opportunity…