Liberalism

Question 1

Foundational equality

Answer 1

We are all born with equal entitlement i.e inalienable rights of man

Question 2

Formal equality

Answer 2

Involves equal status for all members of society regardless of social background i.e liberals are ‘difference blind’

Question 3

Equality of opportunity

Answer 3

All individuals should be allowed similar opportunities to develop their potential

Question 4

Social contract

Answer 4

Invisible contract between people and state. Individuals consent to be governed-may be tacit (not formally expressed) but exists and is provided to government. Seeking to protect their liberty. Rights and duties both parties must abide by

Question 5

Meritocracy

Answer 5

Strives to ensure that we are defined by merit and ability rather than social circumstances of our birth. In a meritocratic society the emphasis is firmly upon achieved status rather than acquired status

Question 6

Mechanistic theory

Answer 6

State was created by man to serve the people and act in their interests. The state is akin to an artificial machine and created by by individuals to protect their freedoms. Also stipulates that our behaviour is determined by interactions between individuals. Based upon an equal worth of individuals (mechanical societies)

Question 7

Tolerance

Answer 7

To be liberal is to be tolerant of diversity. Everyone holds an equal moral worth and everyone should be therefore granted same rights as others

Question 8

Limited government

Answer 8

Overarching and overreaching government is unacceptable. Government should operate minimalist intervention policy where it concerns peoples individual liberty or economy.

Question 9

Individualism

Answer 9

Primacy of individual in society over any group

Question 10

Freedom/liberty

Answer 10

Ability and right to make decisions in own interests based on your own view of human nature

Question 11

State

Answer 11

Necessary to avoid disorder but ‘evil’ as it has potential to remove individual liberty, thus should be limited (linked to liberal view of economy)

Question 12

Rationalism

Answer 12

Humans are rational creatures, capable of reason and logic

Question 13

Equality/social justice

Answer 13

Individuals are of equal value and should be treated impartially and fairly by society

Question 14

Liberal democracy

Answer 14

Balances will of people (elections) with limited government and a respect for civil liberties in society

Question 15

Primacy of individual (human nature)

Answer 15

Idea of individual emerged after feudalism broke down-individual and their rights come first developed
Evolved through natural rights theory (Enlightenment) where thinkers like Kant argued individuals are naturally born w/ their rights (foundational =)
Connects w/ human nature through rational opinions and thoughts that people have
Has sometimes led, w/in liberalism. to a tendency towards atomisation or possive individualism (C.B Macpherson)-all indys are selfish, egotistical,self-serving and self-reliant
Liberals later stressed capacity that humans have for social responsibility and personal development
Does not undermine chief goal for liberals (create society in which person is capable of flourishing and developing to fullness of potential). Therefore liberalism hallmarks is attachment to = of opportunity

Question 16

Freedom/liberty (human nature)

Answer 16

Primacy of indy->committment to indy freedom
Ability to do as you choose
Classical liberalism-liberty was natural and virtually inalienable right
Rejects absolute liberty-possible to infringe on rights of others (Mill harm principle)
Must not infringe on the freedom of others
Argue that liberty is essential to development of skills and talents of individuals
Everyone has = freedoms and liberties

Question 17

Origins of liberalism

Answer 17

Convergence of three trends:
Feudalism decline
Challenge to traditional authority
Enlightenment

Question 18

Decline in feudalism

Answer 18

Monarch top, peasants bottom. Peasants worked the land that king/lords owned. No social mobility. Over time (generations), some peasants started to make money off the land (small no.) and acquired more land. Became landowners and therefore had economic but not political power

Question 19

Challenges to traditional authority

Answer 19

Some people challenged authority e.g English Revolution, American War of Independence, French Rev

Question 20

Enlightenment

Answer 20

Emergence of science to disprove religious ideas and superstitions that had previously been accepted. People wanted more rational ideas to explain things e.g Darwin’s theory of evolution
People asked questions-why things are like this, could we do it better?

Question 21

Classic liberal

Answer 21

Minimalist intervention from govt to maximise freedom

Question 22

Modern liberalism

Answer 22

More willing to intervene, belief that there should be rules and restrictions in order to allow people to flourish and develop their potential fully

Question 23

Two concepts of Liberty-Isaiah Berlin

Answer 23

Negative liberty-absence of external constraint (classic)
Positive liberty-ability to develop and gain self-mastery as an individual (modern)

Question 24

Rationalism (human nature)

Answer 24

Promoting rational thoughts during enlightenment
Society should no longer be governed by tradition that could be grounded in superstitions or ignorant beliefs, that should no longer apply in an age of scientific advancement e.g divine right
Through imp put on reason there is a great sig upon scepticism and debate which challenges ideas and proves them to be correct
Ignorance is an opponent, esp as it is believed it is reason which allows indys to act freely in best interests (Classic thought everyone had same rational capacity, Mill-rationality develops e.g major advocate of education)
Paves way for advocation of progressive policies
Belief leads to conclusion that humans are capable of making their own individual decisions, freely and in their best interests
Human progress has come from increased rationalism

Question 25

Toleration (human nature)

Answer 25

‘Every man who says frankly and fully what he thinks is so far doing a public service’ JS Mill
Belief that individuals should be entitled to widest possible liberty, so therefore are entitled to freedom of association, conscience and expression
Aided by equality of rights and freedoms, as we are all free and equal under the same rights
Don’t endorse absolute toleration and have intolerance towards views that are themselves a threat to tolerance (i.e racist opinions)
Letter concerning toleration (Locke)-advocating tolerance of views that are tolerant themselves
Don’t have complete free speech-can’t be harmful to others e.g equality act protecting certain characteristics

Question 26

Social contract theory-Hobbes

Answer 26

Any reasonable person would come together to set limits to what people can do and abide by it (contract). Was not a liberal as believed we should give up complete freedom to the state for protection

Question 27

Social contract theory-Locke

Answer 27

‘Two treatise of government’ 1688 (glorious rev)
Humans are self-interested not immoral, conflict is individualism
State stops conflict
Limit on how much freedom you give (natural human right)
Limit on state-if they do things that take away freedom they must be consented to
Law guarantees freedom, govt led by consent
How much should state do? How do we limit power of state?

Question 28

Classical liberal view on state

Answer 28

Minimal
‘That government is best which governs least’-Jefferson
Protect basic rights and freedoms, allow liberties in all other ways
‘Night Watchmen’-only act if there’s an issue

Question 29

Modern liberal view on state

Answer 29

More willing to intervene, state will do more
Positive freedom-free when you can develop and grow, state will step in if you can’t do this of your own accord
Enabling state-Bevridge Report 1942, basis of welfare/NHS/state education/social housing. State should step in and help with these things

Question 30

Shared view of all liberals on state

Answer 30

Necessary evil as it is needed but can threaten freedom

Question 31

Constitutionalism-state

Answer 31

Need sovereign state to protect liberty (social contract) but can be a threat to liberty because it has power
Place great sig on need for state to have constitution-ensures state must not possess agency of itself as it’ll be self-serving
Limits power of state and sep power in order to ensure that not one body has monopoly of power
Essential to ensure state remains limited as an arbiter and is not allowed to expand to become absolutionist
e.g federalism-national govt and state govt. Allows states to still have a say, act as checks and balances on each other
Balances need for unity and desire for a degree of self governance

Question 32

Democracy (state)

Answer 32

Traditionally uneasy relationship w/ demo, 1st of all when it came to who should have right to vote (began w/ richest males)
Tyranny of maj/minor-interests and rights of some w/in society subjugated by interests and rights of others (concern to idea of foundational equality)
Collective system-primary of community > individual (opposes core lib ideas)
Early libs-problematic as it gave = voice to uneducated as it did to education (contradict view of rationalism)
Seen as a virtue, understanding limited state is a necessity, therefore using demo as a means of creating more = state, where views of citizens may be rep in govt
Believe in rep demo (direct demo also good but see probs of its reality in countries w/ millions of citizens)
Lib demo-politicians forced to act as reps of people or risk being forced out due to lack of popularity-politicians must follow demands of people in order to secure support
Restrain power of state-consent to be governed in certain way, accountability