liberalism

Liberalism: Human nature

Self serving, rational, freedom and individualism

Liberalism: Society

Equal opportunity, improvement on the state of nature

Liberalism state:

Necessary evil, meritocracy

Liberalism: economy

Free market, capitalist

Classical liberalism date

Late 17th century

Modern liberalism date

Early 20th century

Individualism:

The person over the society - Requires no intervention from the state

Egoistic liberalism

The individual will seek to maximise their own value to best fulfil potential - putting their wants over those of others

Atomistic society

a society made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals

Equality of opportunity

People all had the same chance to use their skills; same ability to rise and fall due to their actins not discrimination or state interference

The minimal state

Governments should be restricted in how ted act, limited governance non-interference

Harm principle

JSM individuals are free to do anything except harm other individuals

The nightwatchman state

The state remains in the background but acts as a deterrent - guarantees order, defends borders

Laissez-faire capitalism

Relies on the invisible hand to guide trades and markets - no govt interference i.e free trade no tariffs

Mills individuality

Liberty, individuality=freedom is a right and a duty

Representative democracy

JSM not everyone should vote, only the educates to prevent tyranny of the majority and to protect individuality

Tyranny of the majority

Popular democracy

Developmental individualism

JSM The individual should be assisted in maximising their own value by state intervention (free education) ‘hand up’

Positive freedom (ML)

the ability to pursue and achieve individual goals- as well as a sense of self rule rather than dependence on others

Negative freedom (CL)

the absence of external constraints and interference from other people or the state

ML society

Greater focus on social responsibility linked to empathy

Altruism (T H Green)

Selfless concern for the well-being of others, without care for one's own interests; unselfishness.

Welfarism

Society should aid individuals in maxing their potential/developmental individualism

Enabling state ML

modern liberal concept where the government provides resources and social support to ensure citizens have the positive freedom to achieve their full potential

Social liberalism

Stress on tolerance - focus on support for minorities

Betty Friedan key ideas:

Focus on women, solution to discrimination is state regulation and positive discrimination (affirmative action) expansion of state to protect natural rights

John Rawls key ideas:

Social justice - foundational equality under law and socio-economic means as a necessity for a fair and just society - rational and empathetic human nature (enabling state, govt by consent)

The original society

RAWLS - if creating society under veil of ignorance (don’t know who you’d be) you’d want better for the poorest - equality of opportunity, inequality of outcome

The enabling state GREEN interpretation

Liberty and freedom as defined by CL thinkers was worthless if the individual lacked the capacity to exercise those liberties