Core Ideas of Socialism

Question 1

What view does socialism have on human nature?

Answer 1

Upbeat view

Individuals naturally cooperative/generous/altruistic - seek solidarity, fraternity, comradeship

Question 2

What did John Donne say in “no man is an island”

Answer 2

Mankind’s true nature diluted by time/circumstance

Human nature is malleable rather than fixed = can fulfill potentital while contributing to cooperative community

Question 3

What view does socialism have on society?

Answer 3

Focus on individual social environment = individuals products of society in which they are born

• Society is independent consturct - impersonal forces
• Karl Marx + Friedrich Engels - forces are economic, means of production
• Scepticism of humans being master of own destiny
• Importance of social class + consequences of Industrial Revolution
• Need for equality of outcome + narrow gap between rich and poor

Question 4

What ideas does socialism hold on the economy?

Answer 4

Common ownership

• Equality of opportunity determined by economic system
• Nature of fraternity/comradeship threatened b capitalism
• Free market economies = inequalities of outcome
• Socialists champion economy that provides worker’s control + redistribution of wealth
• Progressive taxation + progressive public spending, inc. public services + state regulation

Question 5

What are some benefits of economic collectivism?

Answer 5

1. Expression of fraternal + cooperative society with more social justice
2. Economy more efficient - stable + manageable unlike capitalism

Question 6

What ideas does socialism hold on the state?

Answer 6

Strong state for farier/equal society

• Wealth distribution/social justice cannot be bought without expansive state
• Eventually state will wither away = “end of history”
• Reject monarchial, theocratic + aristocratic state
• Power redistributed + reflect equality of people
• DIsagreement among socialists on structure of state