Liberalism 9 marker

Question 1

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers have viewed human nature- 1st point

(john locke)

Answer 1

• rationality: individuals are innately blessed with the quality of rationalism
• John Locke- human beings are guided by the pursuit of self-interest, but are mindful of others concerns
• analysis: modern liberals such as Rawls focus on human potential, and believe that human nature is not fixed (developmental individualism)

Question 2

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers have viewed human nature- 2nd point

( Mary Wollstonecraft)

Answer 2

social hierarchy: rejection of this, and emphasis on the equality of all humans

• Mary Wollstonecraft and Betty Friedan- women should be treated equally to men and human nature has evolved in a way that discourages self advancement amongst women
• analysis- strengthened by their view on the state, its role is to legislate to prevent continued discrimination against women

Question 3

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers have viewed human nature- 3rd point

(JS Mills)

Answer 3

• role of the individual: humans are largely self interested and self reliant
• js mill- humans are self regarding and free to engage in this, links to free will
• analysis: however when this infringes on the rights of others, the state has the right to intervene (known as JS Mill’s harm principle)

Question 4

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers have viewed the role of the state- 1st point

(John Locke)

Answer 4

• classical liberals: should be a limited state to prevent anarchy, view of negative liberty
• John locke- social contract, there is a deal between the government and the governed, basis of US constitution
• analysis- JS mill, view of positive freedom, also classified as a classic liberal

Question 5

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers have viewed the role of the state- 2nd point

( John Rawls

Answer 5

• modern liberal view: state should be an enabling state and provide people with opportunities
• John Rawls- believed that an enabling state is necessary to create a more equal society e.g. NHS
• analysis- contradicts burg the classical liberal view of limited government

Question 6

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers have viewed the role of the state- 3rd point

(Neoliberal view)

Answer 6

• neoliberal view: against any form of state intervention, society should be individualistic
• British Gas being privatised under MT, believed that too much state intervention led to a dependency culture
• analysis- too close to conservatism, so can it really be considered liberal? also arguably not suited to the modern age- downfall of liz truss in 2022

Question 7

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal ideas limit individual freedom- 1st point

( Negative Freedom)

Answer 7

• negative freedom: individuals should not be restrained by the state
• however this does not extend to women, thinkers such as Friedan and Wollstonecraft believe that the concept of negative freedom should be extended to all humans
• analysis: does not allow equality of opportunity in things such as health and education

Question 8

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal ideas limit individual freedom- 2nd point

( Positive Liberty)

Answer 8

• positive liberty: state intervenes to enable freedom- modern view
• key thinker- Rawls, advocated for redistribution of income and a welfare state, individuals have external restraints
• analysis- contradicts with classical liberal view of limited government (locke)

Question 9

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal ideas limit individual freedom- 3rd point

( Tyranny of the Majority)

Answer 9

• tyranny of the majority: term coined by JS Mill (classical liberal)
• believes that the will of the many should not harm the will of the few, only educated people should be allowed to vote
• analysis- undermines representative democracy, protects the rights of the minority rather than majority

Question 10

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers define freedom- 1st point

( Positive freedom)

Answer 10

• positive freedom: widely believed by modern liberals, larger state is needed to secure freedom
• key thinker: John Rawls, advocates for a fair distribution of income, and believes that this is the state’s primary function
• analysis: contradicts with the classical liberal view that the state should be limited

Question 11

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers define freedom- 2nd point

( Negative Freedom)

Answer 11

• negative freedom: widely believed by classical liberals and neoliberals
• believe that individuals should be free from constraints in society e.g. Thatcher believed that a large state fosters a dependency culture
• analysis- strengthen by the traditional liberal view of John locke, who also believed individuals should be free from external constraints

Question 12

explain and analyse 3 ways in which liberal thinkers define freedom- 3rd point

( Mary wollstonecraft)

Answer 12

• freedom is limited for some groups: for example, women were deprived of this
• key thinker- Wollstonecraft, women had their freedom restricted as they were not able to be educated and have equal opportunities
• analysis- view was put forward by Friedan later on, shows how this issue has not changed

Question 13

To what extent are liberals divided or united over the concept of society? (25 marker)

Answer 13

1) Agreement
- Tolerance within society
- Classical liberalistic idea of tolerance
- Compare with Mill’s view that ‘self-regarding’ within society is okay but social othering was not as it impacted on individualism
- Conclude agreement across strands and time clearly exhibits unity over the idea of the state

2) Disagreement
- Society’s duty to the poor
- Classical view that this is an atomistic society and paternalism is infringing on the more fortunate’s freedoms
- Compare with Modern view that collective action and state should support the poor
- Link to Rawls’ view on the economy (Keynesianism) in order to help the poorest in society
- Conclude irreconcilable differences between modern liberals and classical liberals on the basis of different equalities as each’s goal

3) Agreement
- Role of Women in society
- Wollstonecraft’s view that society needs to change and help support women by encouraging formal tuition so they may realise their worth and so that their individual freedoms are not impinged upon
- Link to Frieden’s view that women are conditioned by a patriarchal society to be subservient
- Conclude with similarities showing unity due to both classical and modern thinkers viewing the state as the issue but also the key to bringing gender equality

Question 14

To what extent are liberals divided or united over the concept of human nature?

Answer 14

1) Agreement
- Gender equality
- Wollstonecraft’s view that women are naturally equally as competent as men
- Link to Frieden’s view that women are equal to men but are conditioned by a patriarchal state to be lesser
- Conclude agreement between classical and modern viewpoint on gender equality shown here by two feminist liberals throughout different era’s

2) Agreement
- Optimistic view
- Locke’s view that human beings are rational and logical creatures
- Link to Rawls’ view that human being’s are naturally selfish but are still empathetic to their surroundings
- Conclude agreement as liberalism was born out of rebellion to traditional teachings of human being’s flawed and both modern and classical liberal thinkers show an agreement of an optimistic view with nuance of rationalism.

3) Disagreement
- Individualism
- Modern viewpoint endorsed by Mill and Rawls’ of developmental individualism, the view that human’s can be uplifted and added to by society to become more social creatures
- Compare with Locke’s argument of egotistical individualism and the selfishness that comes within classical liberal’s idea of human nature.
- Conclude complete juxtaposition of views between modern and classical viewpoints and how this shows a divide between modern and classical liberals

Question 15

To what extent are liberals divided or united over the concept of the state?

Answer 15

1) Agreement
- Constitutional state is necessary to limit state
- Locke, the state should represent interest of those governed, and social construct
- Link to Mill and harm principle
- Conclude that there is agreement across strands and so unity is found

2) Agreement
- Representative democracy over direct democracy
- Link to Locke
- Link to Mill’s view that it is the direct cause of tyranny of majority that impinges on individual rights and freedoms
- Conclude agreement

3) Disagreement
- Role of State
- Link to Rawls and view that the free market should be altered (Keynesianism) to uplift poor and create equality of opportunity
- Compare with Classical view that the extensive state impacts on individualism and the state should only legislate for safety
- Conclude irreconcilable differences between classical and modern liberals on basis of different goals of equality

Question 16

To what extent are liberals divided or united over the concept of the economy?

Answer 16

1) Agreement
- Capitalism superiority
- Rawls’ endorsement of capitalism
- Link to classical liberals following the writings of economist Adam Smith who believed in the ‘invisible hand’ and ‘trickle down economics’
- Conclude agreement about which economic system is better suited to uplifting individual’s freedoms in a meritocratic society

2) Agreement
- Gender Equality
- Wollstonecraft’s view that a capitalist economy would be energised by the enterprise of liberated women
- Link to Frieden’s view that free market capitalism when combined with anti-sexual discrimination legislation would be an ally to female emancipation
- Conclude agreement that economics can be the tool to female freedom from oppression and suppression.

3) Disagreement
- State role
- Rawls’ believes in a Keynesian system of a tempered market in order to better help the poorest in society
- Classical liberalistic view of laissez fair economics with Locke and Mill endorsing this along with the writings of Adam Smith
- Conclude severe disagreement about the size of the state and it’s role in the economy and that an enabling state would limit people’s individual freedom whilst a minimal state would cause inequality of opportunity

Question 17

To what extent are liberals divided or united over the concept of equality?

Answer 17

1) Agreement
- Gender equality
- Betty Frieden’s view that women were conditioned by patriarchal society that they are less than men
- Link to Mary Wollstonecraft’s view that women are naturally equally as competent as men
- Conclude that both modern and classical beliefs believe that gender equality is important as inequality impacts on individual freedom for women

2) Disagreement
- Foundational Equality
- John Rawls’ view that foundational equality extends to social and economic equality
- Compare with John Locke’s view that formal equality did not extend as far
- Conclude difference as irreconcilable as if modern and classical cannot agree on what equality is how can they be united on equality

3) Disagreement
- Universal Suffrage
- John Locke’s view that those with education should get more votes and how that impacts on equality
- Compare with Mill’s view that representative democracy is a stand in for direct democracy until there was universal education
- Conclude that there is a severe disagreement on the equality of the vote and how this impacts upon the divide between modern and classical liberals

Question 18

To what extent has modern liberalism departed from classical liberalism?

Answer 18

1) Agreement
- Women
- Mary Wollstonecraft’s view that women are naturally as equally competent as men are
- Link to Betty Frieden’s view that are only subservient because they have been conditioned by a patriarchal society to do so and are naturally as equal.
- Conclude no deviation from classical liberalism in gender equality and the battle against impingement of women’s freedoms at the hands of misogyny.

2) Disagreement
- State
- Locke’s view of a minimal state that is acting on the will of the governed and not impinging on the citizen’s freedoms
- Compare with Rawls’ view that the state should be intervening in citizens life in order to help reach social equality to help their individual freedoms
- Conclude that the two views show a disparity between classical and modern liberalism as the views of Locke contradict the views of Rawls. One cannot have a state that is both enabling and minimal

3) Disagreement
- Economy
- Classical view of Adam Smith of the ‘invisible hand’ of the free market and the ‘trickle down economics’ of laissez fair capitalism will help everyone reach their potential within the meritocracy
- Compare with Rawls’ endorsement of Keynesian economics and a form of protectionism that helps the poorest in society reach an equality of opportunity
- Conclude severe difference between modern views of capitalism and classical views of free market economics and how this clearly illustrates the difference between classical and modern liberalism