Liberalism

Question 1

What’s an Ideology?

Answer 1

A set of ideas that provides basis for organised political action. Whether intended to preserve, modify or overthrow current system of power

Question 2

Main beliefs of Liberalism?

Answer 2

• Freedom + the individual
• Human nature
• The role of state
• Society ~> tolerant society
• Economy

Question 3

What’s egotistical Individualism?

Answer 3

People are self reliant + seeking + independent therefore society is atomistic with cooperative individuals

Question 4

What’s negative freedom?

Answer 4

Liberty is an absence of constraint

Question 5

What’s harm principle?

Answer 5

Everyone should only have freedom + J.S Mill argued that the gov should only intervene to prevent harm

Question 6

What’s individualism?

Answer 6

Importance of the individual over the collective in political thought

Question 7

What’s hedonism?

Answer 7

Happiness is ultimate good measured as pleasure and absence of pain
Quantity > Quality

Question 8

Negative liberty

Answer 8

Freedom that involves people being left alone to peruse their destiny -> interference could be infringement of liberty

Question 9

Mechanistic theory

Answer 9

John Locke argues humans are rational and can build a state that reflects their needs. Rejects divine right of kings

Question 10

Developmental individualism

Answer 10

John Stuart Mill focused on what people could become, emphasis education

Question 11

Economic liberalism

Answer 11

Capitalism - belief that private property is a natural right and that private enterprise allows for individual Liberty

Question 12

Keynesianism

Answer 12

Based upon John Maynard Keynes, form of capita in that involves state directing and managing market forces for steady growth, full employment therefore greater liberty

Question 13

Social contract

Answer 13

John Locke says state should be a deal between the government and the governed

Question 14

Foundational equality

Answer 14

People born equal so entitled to equal treatment by the state eg laws and rights

Question 15

What are the 3 types of liberalism?

Answer 15

Classical, Modern, Neo-liberalism

Question 16

Atomism

Answer 16

Society is made up of self - sufficient and interested individuals

Question 17

Heywoods 5 values of liberalism?

Answer 17

Individualism, freedom, reason, justice, tolerance + diversity

Question 18

Key views of classical liberalism

Answer 18

Government by consent, negative liberty, natural rights, minimal government, laissex Faire capitalism + ambivaent about democracy

Question 19

Minimal government

Answer 19

The government which governs best is that which governs the least, limited in power, how + whether they act, ‘when gov grows our liberty is restricted’ - J.S.M

Question 20

Laissex Faire capitalism

Answer 20

‘Leave alone’, capitalism limitless capacity to enrich individuals + society as long as state intervention in the economy was severely restricted - Adam Smith

Question 21

Government by consent

Answer 21

State should be serving not master, rejects divine right of kings

Question 22

Ambivaent about democracy

Answer 22

Karl Marx - only property owners should be able to vote, J.S.M thought only uni graduates should vote as they were rational

Question 23

John Locke views on human nature

Answer 23

Humans rational, optimistic + need gov to be night watchman
“Mankind is selfish yet empathetic”

Question 24

Mary Wollstonecraft views on human nature

Answer 24

Believe optimistic human nature applied to men + women

Question 25

John Stuart Mill views on human nature

Answer 25

Individualism leads to equal moral worth ~} development individualism “It’s better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”

Question 26

Utilitarianism

Answer 26

Applies principle of utilty - Greatest happiness for the greatest number

Question 27

John Lockes views on society

Answer 27

Full of sufficient people ( rationalism), atomistic

Question 28

John Lockes views on the state

Answer 28

Against feudal system for gov by consent + social contract, gov is necessary evil ‘night watchman’, ‘where laws don’t exist man has no freedom’

Question 29

John Lockes views on economy

Answer 29

Free market, defence of private property, believed in the Keynesian trickle down theory, votes for all could threaten natural right to property

Question 30

Mary Wollstonecraft’s view on society

Answer 30

Everyone has equal moral worth, becoming wives restricted female individualism as once married women had little legal protection against violence caused by spouse “such arrangements aren’t conditions where reason + progress may prosper”

Question 31

Mary Wollstonecraft’s view on state

Answer 31

against divine right of kings, thought that women not being able to vote was a blatant violation of gov by consent, though women should have education ~> develop rationality

Question 32

Mary Wollstonecraft view on economy

Answer 32

Thought that women were denied economic independence as they were rarely allowed land ownership or paid employment

Question 33

J. S Mill view on society

Answer 33

Universal education helped to promote developmental individualism

Question 34

J. S Mill view on the state

Answer 34

Argued for representative democracy (MP’s), min gov, though uni grads should vote ~> rational entities, supported voted for women, supported democracy ~> develop

Question 35

J. S Mill view on economy

Answer 35

Believed that a free market economy helps to enrich individuals

Question 36

Social Darwinism

Answer 36

Those who don’t thrive in a limited gov + negative freedom will be eliminated ( survival of the fittest)

Question 37

Positive liberty

Answer 37

Freedom to make choices, enabling state helps to ensure equality of outcome not just opportunity ( welfare state)

Question 38

Social liberalism

Answer 38

The endorsement of a regulated market economy and the expansion of civil + political rights

Question 39

Enabling state

Answer 39

State that allows people to choose to progress rather than 1 which intervenes + forces people to succeed

Question 40

Affirmative action

Answer 40

Positive action towards minority’s + given advantage over others to ensure equality of opportunity is enshrined

Question 41

Original aim of liberalism

Answer 41

Equality of opportunity

Question 42

Neo liberalism

Answer 42

A political approach which favours free market capitalism and limited gov intervention