Key Thinkers Flashcards
(39 cards)
What was John Locke’s key work
Two Treatises Of Government (1690)
What is the summary of locke’s ideas
Denied the right that a monarch had a “Divine Right”
He liked the idea of a state of nature
The state would only work with natural laws and rights and the separation of powers
What was the significance of Locke
It influenced many revolutions and the stopping of many monarchs like the American war of independence and the French Revolution
Lockes view on human nature
Humans are rational, guided by self-interest but mindful of other concerns
Lockes view on the state
It must be representative, based on the consent of the governed
Lockes view on society
it predates the state, there were natural society’s with natural laws and rights
Lockes view on the economy
State policy should allow private house ownership, and arbitrate effectively between individuals competing for trade and resources
What are Wollstonecraft key works
The vindication of the rights of men/women
What is Wollstonecraft summary of ideas
Believed in he enlightenments optimistic view of human nature
A vindication of the rights of men trashed edmund burkes view on the french revolution, and applauded their view on citizens rather than gender
Pushed support for the republican party and a constitutional defense of individual rights
Argued that england was stopping half their brainpower while not supporting women
Significance of Wollstonecraft
She influenced many women and started the baseline for feminism
Wollstonecraft view on human Nature
Rationalism defines both genders, intellectually, men and women aren’t very different
Wollstonecraft view on the state
the monarch ran state should be replaced by a republic, which enshrines women’s rights
Wollstonecraft view on society
Society has made women’s minds worse and therefore stifled the female individualism
Wollstonecraft view on the economy
A free-market economy would be energized by the introduction of women
What is John Stuart Mills key work
On liberty
John Stuart Mills summary of views
On liberty outlined negative freedom and that peoples action should be accepted if they don’t affect others negatively
He believed that actions that included violent and riotous behaviour disrupted people’s freedom and therefore shouldn’t be allowed
He saw liberty as an “Engine of ongoing human development” rather than just a “natural light”
He wanted to not just liberate individuals but introduce “Individuality” instead to them
His distinction between “Individualism” and “individuality” would have implications for democracy and making up for the “Tyranny of the government”
Significance of John Stuart Mill
One of the greatest thinkers and philosophers. Was not just an intellectual but also a campaigner and politician
John Stuart Mills view of Human Nature
Though fundamentally rational, human nature is not fixed, it is forever evolving to a higher level
John Stuart Mills view of the state
The state should proceed cautiously towards representative democracy, mindful of minority rights
John Stuart Mills view of society
The Best society was one were “Individuality” co-existed with tolerance and self-improvement
John Stuart Mills view of the economy
Laissez-faire capitalism was vital to progress, individual enterprise and individual initiative
T H Green’s key work
Prolegomena to Ethics and lectures on the principles of political obligation
Summary of T H Green’s views
argued that if people were working 20 hours a day just to go home to a slum and risk dying of diseases, was it really freedom
Pushed positive freedom saying that the state needs to help, otherwise people wont be free
To be truly free people have to be free of hunger, poverty and poor health
significance of T H Green
Green was a social liberal arguing that any government had to be active in ensuring liberty for its citizens through the introduction of progressive social legislation and state aid.
