Ideas and Principles Flashcards
(35 cards)
Where did liberalism emerge from?
It emerged in reaction to the rule of monarchies and aristocratic privilege in the early modern world
Who’s views did it represent?
Reflected the views of educated middle classes who sought wider civil liberties and opportunities to better themselves
What movement did liberalism emerge from?
The Enlightenment; an 18th century intellectual movement that rejected traditional social, political and religious ideas and stressed the power of reason and importance of tolerance and freedom
Who wrote the US Declaration of Independence and when was it written? What was it’s key message?
Thomas Jefferson; 1776; unalienable rights- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
What did Immanuel Kant believe?
Individuals are unique and have equal worth.
People should be treated as instruments to achieve a particular goal, but should be regarded as having their own intrinsic value.
What was Kant’s ‘categorical imperative’?
It is an absolute moral requirement to perform an action for its own sake rather than any gain.
What are classical liberals belief on individualism?
Egotistical individualism- the view that people are self-seeking and self-reliant.
Minimises the importance of society seeing it as little more than a collection of independent individuals
What are modern liberals belief on individualism?
Developmental individualism- individual freedom is linked to the desire to create a society in which each person can grow and flourish.
This justifies their support for some state intervention in society to help the disadvantaged
What is tolerance?
A willingness to accept values, customs and beliefs which on disagrees
What formed liberals views on freedom?
They objected to the way in which authoritarian govts claimed a right to take decisions on behalf of people and attempted to regulate their behaviour
What was John Locke’s (1632-1704) view on freedom?
‘Where there is no law, there is no freedom’
Freedom can never be absolute but must be exercised under law, in order to protect people from interfering with each others rights
What is utilitarianism?
Aims at attaining the greatest happiness for the greatest number
A society based upon utilitarianism would provide the basis for a liberal utopia
What does Jeremy Bentham’s view on a liberal society?
Each individual can decide what is in their own interest
Human actions are motivated mainly by a desire to pursue pleasure and to avoid pain
Govt should not prevent people from doing what they choose unless their actions threaten others ability to do the same for themselves
Mechanistic view of human behaviour that saw people as driven by rational self-interest
When applied to society could lead to tyranny of the majority
What is negative freedom?
Classical liberal concept by John Stuart Mill
Freedom from interference by other people
What is positive freedom?
Modern liberal concept by T.H. Green
Having the capacity to act on one’s free will and to realise personal potential
What are liberals view on the state?
It is a ‘necessary evil’
The state is needed to avert disorder and to protect the vulnerable from exploitation
The state mistrusts power because they believe that human beings are essentially self-seeking, so may use position of power to pursue their own interests probably at the expense of others.
Why do liberals oppose the concentration of power?
It gives people a greater incentive to benefit themselves and to use other people for their own ends
Victorian liberal historian Lord Acton (1834-1902): “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
What is a limited government?
Where the role of govt is limited by the checks and balances and a separation if powers because if the corrupting nature of power
What is constitutionalism?
Govt in which power is distributed and limited by a system of laws
What are separation of powers?
Authority is shared between the three branches of govt: the legislature, executive and judiciary
The branches are given some influence over each other and they act to check abuses of power
What are Bill of Rights?
A clear statement of citizens rights and defines the relationship between citizens and the state
What is laissez-faire capitalism?
An economic system, organised by the market, where goods are produced for exchange and profit and wealth is privately owned
What is rationalism?
Individuals should be free to exercise their judgement about their own interests without needing to be guided by external authorities (state or church leaders)
It is better for individuals to take responsibility for themselves than to take instruction from above
Example of Rationalism in action
Use of reasoned debate and discussion to resolve disputes
League of Nations- UN
EU
