Liberalism Flashcards
(62 cards)
1
Q
what was the englightenment
A
- move away from religous beliefs (divine right of kings)
- more scientifical and empirical approach
2
Q
what was the phrase of the french revolution
A
- liberty
- equality
- fraternity
3
Q
what did Locke focus on
A
individualism
4
Q
what is john locke refered to as
A
the father of liberalism
5
Q
what is mechanistic theory
A
- mankind is rational and therefore capable of devising a state that reflects mankinds needs
6
Q
what shaped Locke’s ideas
A
- his father was the captain of the pariamentary army (during the english civil war)
- well aqucinated with the first earl of shaftesbury
6
Q
what should the aim of the state be accoridng to locke
A
- preserve the quiet living of society
7
Q
when did locke think it was okay for subjects to overthrow their monarchs
A
- to prevent tyranny (this is were the ideea of a right to bare arms originated from)
- to protect their inalinable rights
- e.g. right to property
8
Q
how did locke think people would form governemnt (contradicotiry to hobbes)
A
- voluntarily
- because humans are logical and rational creatures
9
Q
what did locke argue mankind was
A
- egoistical and self-interested
- with an “eternal longing” to be self-fulfilled
10
Q
what are the two strands of liberalism
A
- classical and modern
11
Q
what is a classical liberal
A
- earliest form of the ideology
- freedom»_space;>
- best achieved by restricting the powers of government (nightwatchman state)
12
Q
what is modern liberalism
A
- emerged as a reaction to the growth of a free-market
- did not wish to abolish capitalism but wanted to regualte the markets to avid deprivation and ineqaulity
- support some kind of welfare state
13
Q
what is meant by the term “social contract”
A
- society and state are based on a theaoretical disagreement
- people shoudl accpet government authority as long as it fulfills its part of the contract
14
Q
what does individualism reveal about liberals attituudes to human nature
A
- shows that they are more optimistic
15
Q
what did kant say about liberalism
A
- should never treat people as a means to an end
16
Q
what 3 things does individualism seek to do
A
- self determination
- self realisation
- self fulfillment
17
Q
define egoistic individualism
A
- the belief that human beings are naturally drawn to the advancement of their own selfish interests and pursuit of their own happiness
18
Q
what do classical liberal believe in regards to individualism
A
- belive in egoitic individualism
19
Q
how do classical liberals respond to the problem of sselfishness
A
- mankind has innate rationality
- egoistic and reasonable
20
Q
what do modern liberals believe in, in regards to individualism
A
- developmental individualism
21
Q
define developmental individualism
A
- plays down the pursuit of self-intrest
- justifys the support of state intervention to help the disadvantaged
22
Q
what is a key part of liberals belief in individualism
A
- tolerance
23
Q
liberals attidtudes towards sexual matters
A
- relaxed, these are private lifestyle choices
- moral autonomy
24
example of moral autonomy
- sexual offences act in 1967
- decriminsalised homosexuality
25
what are the 6 core ideas of liberalism
- individualism
- freedom / liberty
- the state
- rationalism
- equality / social justice
- liberal democracy
26
what did locke say about absolute monarchies
- illegitamate
27
what is mills harm principle
- everyone should leave people to get on with their lives as long as they dont harm anyone else
28
what does mill say about free speech
- censorship is the enemy of progress
29
how do classical liberals understand free speech
- there conception of freedom is atomistic
rugged individualism will make society more dynamic as individuals have to succeed on their own
30
what kind of liberal is mill and why
- "transition liberal"
- he advocates for universal education which is a positive freedom ,more developmental individualism
31
what do liberals think that the last resort should always be
- war
32
what is an example of rationalism in action
- united nation s
- liberal dems wanting to revoke article 50 to prevent brexit
33
how can the liberals view of that state be descirbed
as a necessary evil
34
lord actons quote on power
"power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutly
35
explain the relationship that liberals have with the state
comples
- recognise that the state is needed to avert disorder
- andd protect the vulnerable from exploitation
- however they mistrust power because we are intrinsically self seeking
-thus may use positions of power to pursue their own intrests
36
put simply why does the state worry about power
- iberals oppose the cconcentration of political power as it gives people a greater incentive to benefit themselves and to use other people for their own needs
37
what kind of government do liberals argue for
- limited government
-with checks andd balances
- support devolution (as they dislike the notion of centralised power)
-
38
define an enabling state
- does not necessarily provide for people but directly create the conditions where people can help themselves
39
what do liberals feel the satets role should be in an economic sense
-- the liberal emphasis on a limited role for the state also has an economic dimension
- lasissez fair capitalism
40
define laissez-faire capitalism
minimal intervention in business and the state by the government
41
what did adam smith say about economics
- self intrest drives economic growth
42
adam smiths quote
"it is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own intrest "
43
how do classical liberals view the state
- as a necessary evil
- laissez-fair economics
44
how do modern liberals view the state
- enabling state
- promote equality of oppurtunity
- keynesian economics
45
what is keynesian economics
- state is capable of managing the economy to secure employment
46
deifnf foundational equality
a belief that all individuals areborn with natural rights which cannot be taken away
47
what did mary wallstonecraft argue
- women are no less rational beings than men
- entitled to the same right to pursue a career and to their own property when married
48
what did betty friedan argue that the role of the state is
- a vehicle that could counter dominant patrairchal values and discriminated aginst women
49
what kind of liberal was betty friedan
modern liberal
- because she believed in an enabling state
50
put simply what did rawl advocate for
- every citizens should be guaranteed a life worth living
- difference in outcomes should be kept to a minimum
51
what is the "original position"
- a hypothetical state of affairs before human society has been formed
52
equality of oppurtunity statistic
- 65% of senior judges are from independent schools (oxrbdige and private schools)
53
classic liberal stance on equality and social justice
- full meritoacracy
- social ineqaulity is beneficial as it gives people an incentive to work hard
54
modern liberal stance on equality and social justice
- degree of state intervention to narrow social inequalities
55
what is rawls "veil of ignorance" experiment
- if given two options of how to enter the world there is a more favourable
- forces us to think objectivly about what a fair society looks like (its like some sort of lottery at the moment)
56
what 3 things does a liberal democracy involve
- free elections
- limitations of the power of the state
- respect for civil liberties and toleration of differnt view points
57
why do liberals support democracy
it enables citizens to hold the government to account
- extendning education and participation which ultimatly aids personal development
58
locke quote on economy
"government has no other end, but the presevration of porperty"
59
what did rawls say about an enabling state in terms of its economic role
exstensive public spending funded by increased taxation
60
what economist do classical liberasl support
adam smith, state should adopt a laissez-faire attitude to the economy as too much state intervention would distrot the economy and lead to high infaltion and economic state mismanagement
61
