liberalism key thinkers

social contract theory (john locke)

society, state n govt are based on a theoretical voluntary agreement

limited government (john locke)

the role of govt should be limited n based on consent from below

“government has no other end, but the…

…preservation of property” - LOCKE

john locke argued that the state is…

…the creation of humankind

john locke argued that laws should follow and confirm…

…natural rights and natural laws

john locke argued that the state was the result of a social…

…contract between citizens and the govt

john locke argued that the state should be…

…limited and its powers should be divided between different agencies

reason (mary wollstonecraft)

women are rational and independent beings, capable of reason

formal equality (mary wollstonecraft)

in order to be free, women should enjoy full civil liberties n be allowed to have a career

“I do not wish them [women] to have…

…power over men; but over themselves” - WOLLSTONECRAFT

mary wollstonecraft believed that people are rational and that…

…human nature is naturally good

mary wollstonecraft believed that women were as capable of…

…rational thought as men

mary wollstonecraft argued that the free exercise of individualism is essential if…

…society is to progress culturally and economically

mary wollstonecraft believed that women were largely to blame for their inferior position because…

…they had historically accepted the superiority of men

negative liberty & harm principle (john stuart mill)

each individual should be free to take whatever actions they judged fit, as long as it does no harm to anyone else

tolerance (john stuart mill)

other’s actions should be tolerated unless they do harm

“the only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our good in our own way…

…so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it” - MILL

john stuart mill believed that individual liberty was essential for the…

…development of the individual in terms of creativity, culture and intellect

john stuart mill opposed popular democracy where…

…the interests of the few could be crushed by the interests of the majority

john stuart mill believed that the govt should interfere as…

…little as practicable in society, esp in economic activity

legal equality (betty friedan)

women are as capable as men n oppressive laws n social views must be overturned

equal opportunity (betty friedan)

women are being held back from their potential because of the limited number of jobs that are ‘acceptable’ for women

“who knows what women can be when…

…they are finally free to be themselves” - FRIEDAN

betty friedan argued strongly for…

…individual freedom

betty friedan believed that if the state was based on liberal principles…

…it would be possible to achieve equality of opportunity for both women and men

a theory of justice (john rawls)

society must be just n guarantee each citizen a life worth living

the veil of ignorance (john rawls)

a hypothetical scenario where individuals agree on the type of society they want from a position where they lack knowledge of their own position in society

“each person is to have an equal right to…

…the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others” - RAWLS

john rawls strongly supported individual liberty, insisting that freedom should be…

….available to all in society on an equal basis