liberalism - human nature Flashcards
essay plan - TWE liberals united in their views on human nature? (7 cards)
what is the line of argument for paragraph 1?
agree- liberals see humans as rational beings guided by reason and self interest
paragraph one - rational
what is the debate section -
- beginning the period of the Enlightenment, liberalism marked a major shift in how human nature was viewed and understood. Rather than a view of human nature rooted in Christianity and the idea of original sin, liberals such as John Locke argued that humans are rational creatures guided by reason and logic; a much more optimistic view of human nature
- the belief underpins the liberal view that individuals, equipped with rationality, are best placed to determine their own interests and make effective decisions. they are ablate work out what is best for themselves through reason and this will also benefit society as a whole as a result.
- LOCKE argued that not only were humans rational, they also had natural rights to “life, liberty and property”
- the liberal principle of individualism emphasises that every person possess inherent value and the right to self-determination and that politics be structured to do so.
- CLASSICAL LIBERALS, in particular, hold that this inherently rational human that there is the opportunity for individual progress based on effort and that society functions as a meritocracy, where individuals can rise based on their abilities and efforts, regardless of their initial social standing
- emphasis on human rationality can also be seen in the thought of MODERN LIBERALS. Rawls’ justification for an enabling state was rooted in human rationality.
- He argued that faced with a ‘veil of ignorance’, according to which individuals wouldn’t know where they would end up in a society, they would rationally choose a society which is much more equal and gives much more support to the disadvantaged.
what is the LOA for paragraph 2?
CL and ML agree that women are equal to men but are held back by human nature.
paragraph 2 - debate…
- both CL and ML believed that women were equally rational as men, but were held back from exercising this rationality and being truly equal by society
- WOLLSTONECRAFT, a classical liberal, challenged the prevailing societal beliefs of her time, which depicted women as inherently inferior to men in intellect and agency, and argued that women are inherently rational beings, fully capable of reason and deserving of the same educational opportunities as men
- she asserted that any perceived inferiority of women was not the result of natural differences but of inadequate and unequal education, which stifled their intellectual development and confined them to subordinate roles in society
- Wollstonecraft advocated for a change in the way society views and educates women, emphasising that with proper education, women could make decisions independently and be just as rational as men
- she wrote ‘VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN’; “Let woman share the rights and she will emulate the virtues of man; for she must grow more perfects when emancipated”
- she and other classical liberals including MILL also advocated for women being treated equally under the law, including voting rights, property rights, and equal opportunities in employment.
- MODERN LIBERALS made very SIMILAR arguments in the 20th century about how the potential of women’s rational human nature was stifled by an oppressive society. BETTY FRIEDAN argued that women were constrained by pervasive societal attitudes that undermined their rationality and autonomy. these societal attitudes suggested that the primary role of women was that of the mother and wife confined them to the domestic sphere
– She called these attitudes the “feminine mystique”, which suggested that women could find complete fulfilment and identity exclusively through domestic life. She argued that this denied women true freedom, rationality and the potential for self-realisation that was innate in all humans - FRIEDAN wrote in ‘The Feminine Mystique’ ; “Who knows what women can be when they are finally free to become themselves?”
- FRIEDAN continued the classical liberal support for legal equality. she was a key figure in advocating for the Equal Rights Amendment in the US, which was aimed at guaranteeing equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex
- crucially however, she went further than Wollstonecraft in arguing that societal attitudes and cultural norms play a key role in perpetuating inequality, whilst also arguing that the state should play an active role in levelling the playing field through measures such as affirmative action and laws to tackle discrimination.
paragraph 3- what is the line of argument?
Liberals disagree as to whether humans can pursue their goals without the state
paragraph 3 -
- though all liberals are driven by a view of human nature rooted in individualism and the rational pursuit of self-interest, there is a key disagreement as to the extent of this individualism and the extent to which individuals are able to pursue their goals without the support of the state
CL- support the idea of ‘egotistical individualism’, which is closely linked to the idea of negative freedom. this concept argues that individuals should be left alone to follow their self-interest without govt interference and that when people are left to pursue their own interests, guided by rational thinking, it ultimately benefits everyone in society.
- they believe that individuals are self-sufficient and the best judge of their own self interest. they believe that this not only fosters personal responsibility and independence but also stimulates innovation and collective societal progress (links to enlightenment movement). rationalism ensure that the pursuit of self-interest leads to rational consensus and agreement between individuals rather than conflict
- in the context of growing industrialisation in the 19th century, classical liberal Herbert Spencer advocated for ‘social darwinism’. this advocated the idea that, like in nature, only the ‘fittest’ should survive in an economic context and that, rather than providing some individuals with support, the state should leave humans to naturally compete which would lead to natural progress and societal innovation
- in “social statistics’ Spencer wrote “if they are sufficiently complete to live they do not live, and it is well they should live. if they are not sufficiently complete to live, they die, and it is best they should die.’
MODERN LIBERALS instead argued for ‘developmental individualism’, which is rooted in the idea that each person should have the chance to develop their talents and abilities to the fullest. they argued that the ‘enabling state’ had an important role to play in making this a reality.
- this form of individualism, first articulated by John Stuart Mill, links to positive liberty and argues that true individual freedom doesn’t just involve the absence of constraints, it also requires providing individuals with the tools and capabilities necessary to pursue their ambitions and goals.
- MILL in particular agued that humans should not simply be left alone to pursue their self-interest, instead they should be supported to reach their potential. he saw education as key to achieving this and promoted universal education.
- MODERN LIBERALS developed these ideas by arguing that the state should therefore play a proactive role by providing fair access to resources and opportunities to empower all in society. This involves stepping in to provide education, healthcare, social security, and other necessary resources that enable people to overcome barriers and achieve their potential.
– by doing so, the state doesn’t just protect the disadvantaged but actively empowers them, enhancing their ability to participate fully in society and exercise their rationality and self-interest.
conclusion -
- overall largely united
whilst there are certainly differences in their beliefs on the extent to which individualism can be pursued without the help of the state, these differences are more in relation to different views on how society should deal with inequality. their views on human nature are fundamentally similar and emphasise rationality and the possibly for progress.
