Liberalism Key Thinkers Flashcards
(58 cards)
1
Q
What were Betty Friedan’s views on individualism?
A
- All individuals should seek self-determination and realise their potential
- Believed that gender hindered this potential
2
Q
How was Friedan involved in Civil Rights?
A
First president and cofounder of National Organisation of Women.
3
Q
What did the National Organisation of Women aim to do?
A
Bring women to full and equal partnership with men.
4
Q
What were Friedan’s views on the state?
A
- The liberal state would be able to pursue change.
- This would be done through positive discrimination and reinforcement.
5
Q
What were Friedan’s criticisms of society?
A
- Women rarely saw positive female role-models that worked outside the home and had a family.
- Women were told they should want a lifestyle around marriage and family.
- Attitudes in society condemned women to underachieve.
6
Q
What were Friedan’s visions of society?
A
- Wanted women to break through the curtain of prejudice and discrimination.
- Emancipation of women from patriarchal society.
- Legislative reform including economic power for women.
7
Q
What was Friedan’s most famous work?
A
The Feminine Mystique (1963)
8
Q
what context was Friedan writing in?
A
1960s America- rise of civil rights movement with social changes for gender and race.
9
Q
What were Rawls views on human nature?
A
- We are naturally self interested and rational, understanding and tolerant.
- Reasonable opposing views will be reconciled.
10
Q
What were Rawls views on the state?
A
- State institutions should be neutral otherwise people will not abide by rules.
- Welfare redistribution- helps society as a whole.
- The enabling state allows for a welfare state.
11
Q
What were Rawls views on the economy?
A
- Inequalities in wealth lead to advantages as higher wages cover education costs and jobs are filled.
- Only able to have strong welfare state through distribution of wealth.
- Supported free market economics
12
Q
What were Rawls views on Society?
A
- Society is only fair when people do not care what circumstances they are born into.
- Assumes people want fairer society where all individuals have equal opportunity.
- There should be similar chances of achievement if equally motivated.
13
Q
What was Rawls Difference principle?
A
Inequalities in wealth are permissible only if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.
14
Q
What was Rawls Liberty principle
A
Every individual should have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberties.
15
Q
What was John Rawls concept of the “Veil of Ignorance”?
A
The idea that society should be constructed as if we have no prior knowledge of our future wealth.
16
Q
What was John Rawls most famous work?
A
Theory of Justice (1974) - outlined his two principles of justice
17
Q
What context was Rawls writing in?
A
1970s, he was a Harvard Professor.
18
Q
What was Green’s view of human nature?
A
- We are not solely egotistic and have some degree of altruism.
- Humans can be rational and self interested.
- Do not act solely on will or desires but instead through moral code.
19
Q
What was Green’s view of the economy?
A
- Economic freedom leads to human exploitation- e.g. industrial revolution.
- Called for state intervention and challenged Laissez-faire to protect workers.
- State have right to raise taxes and redistribute wealth.
20
Q
What were Green’s views on Self-development?
A
- State can help expand self development and help people reach their potential.
- People want to be altruistic and help others develop- DEVELOPMENTAL INDIVIDUALISM
21
Q
What were Green’s views on the State?
A
- Promote the widest possible choice and opportunities.
- Free from oppressive rulers.
- Regulate working exploitation.
- Right to raise taxation and redistribute taxes.
22
Q
What was Green’s view on Positive Freedom?
A
- Freedom should allow the individual to develop and realise potential.
- Liberty can be threatened by social disadvantages which the state can prevent.
- Involves individuals helping each other.
23
Q
What was Green’s view on private property?
A
He supported individual right to property.
24
Q
What two works was Green famous for?
A
Liberal Legislation and the Freedom of Contract.
25
What context was Green writing in?
Writing during the industrial revolution at a time of unregulated industry and free market capitalism.
26
What were Mill's views on democracy?
* Feared democratic state becoming "Tyranny of the Majority".
* Worried that a government by consent would lead to uneducated voters and a lack of individualism.
27
What were Mill's views on the State?
* Supported the Laissez-faire approach to economics.
* Supported individual rights to private property.
28
What were Mill's views on toleration and debate?
* Any self regarding actions do not restrict the freedom of others and should therefore be tolerated.
* Toleration of new ideas is important to help good ideas emerge.
29
What were Mill's criticisms of Hedonism?
* Following desires can sometimes be harmful.
* Thought there was a hierarchy to hedonism. - "Better to be a human dissatisfied than a Pig satisfied."
30
What were Mill's views on the Harm Principle?
* Believed that self regarding actions should be tolerated.
* Believed that actions regarding others- such as violence- should not be tolerated.
* If actions don't restrict the freedom of others then they are fine.
31
What was Mill's view on the Despotism of Custom
* Society can stop people from achieving their full potential by pressuring them to conform to societal expectations.
32
What were Mill's most famous works?
On Liberty (1859)
The Subjection of Women (1869)
Utilitarianism (1863)
33
What context was Mill writing in?
He was a Victorian philosopher and member of Parliament.
He is a bridge between Classical and Modern liberalism.
34
What were Wollstonecraft's views on Individual freedom and foundational equality?
* Women could not vote for who governed them- this was a violation of Government by consent.
* England were limiting their stock of intelligent beings by denying female rights.
35
What was Wollstonecraft's response to Burke's defence of tradition and aristocracy?
* Disagreed- supported the Republican Government.
* Defended individual rights.
* Supported the French indifference in gender.
* Attacked the privileged inherited wealth- property should be earned.
36
What were Wollstonecraft's views on revolution?
* Supported American and French revolutions.
* Supported the French indifference to gender.
37
What were Wollstonecraft's views on importance of reason?
* Women being denied a voice limited their reason.
* Belief that we are guided by reason applies to both men and women.
* State viewed women as irrational which denied them freedom and equality.
38
What were Wollstonecraft's views on education?
* Formal education should be available to women.
* Individuals can't realise full potential and rationality without education.
* The mind has no gender.
39
What were Wollstonecraft's most famous works?
Vindication of the Rights of Men (1790)
Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
40
In what context was Mary Wollstonecraft writing?
She was writing during the American and French revolutions, and was a forerunner to the feminist movement.
41
What were Locke's views on the State?
* Denied the idea that state was prescribed by God, therefore against Divine Rights of Kings.
* True state is created by mankind and people consent to being governed.
* Living under the state of Law should be better than Nature.
42
What was Locke's view on Fiduciary power?
The state needs the separation of powers to be limited.
43
What were Locke's views on the economy?
* The key reason people place themselves under government is the preservation of property.
* The state helps protect property rights.
44
What did Locke believe was private property?
As soon as you use labour to earn something, then that becomes part of your property rights.
45
What did Locke believe about Social contract?
* Both sides have to fulfil contract.
* This takes place when people leave the state of nature and consent to the state of Law.
46
What were Locke's views on Natural Rights?
* Everyone has a set of rights naturally given to them by God.
* This includes property, liberty and the pursuit of self-fulfilment.
47
What were Locke's views on revolution?
* Rulers who consistently infringe on peoples rights should be rightly removed.
48
What were Locke's views on society?
* People's beliefs didn't matter and shouldn't be a reason for imprisonment.
* Using force to change someone's irrational.
* Should be equal and independent and education is important.
49
What were Locke's views on the State of Nature?
He differed from Hobbes view and believed that the State of Nature was peaceful.
50
What were Locke's views on human nature?
* Education is a key development- childhood events affect our lives.
* We are rational and born to be rational thinkers.
* Humans are self interested and rational.
51
What works was John Locke famous for?
Two Treatises of Government (1688)
A letter Concerning Toleration (1689)
52
In what context was Locke writing in?
The enlightenment.
53
What title was Locke given?
The Father of Liberalism
54
Locke on Human nature?
"We are born to be rational creatures"
55
Locke on Society/Natural Rights/Economy?
"Being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life"
56
Locke on the State?
"The people have a right to remove it by force"
57
Locke on the role of the state?
"The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve life and enlarge freedom"
58
Locke on the importance of private property?
"The chief end of people placing themselves under the government is the preservation of property."
