Liberalism Key Thinkers-> Society

Question 1

John Locke

Answer 1

Society predates the state: there were ‘natural’ societies with natural laws and natural rights.

Question 2

Mary Wollstonecraft

Answer 2

Society ‘infantilised’ women and thus stifled female individualism.

Question 3

John Stuart Mill

Answer 3

The best society was one where ‘individuality’ co-existed with tolerance and self improvement

Question 4

John Rawls

Answer 4

The society most individuals would choose would be one where the condition of the poorest improved.

Question 5

Betty Friedan

Answer 5

Society remained chauvinistic towards women, though women are explicit,in their repression.

Question 6

Tensions within liberalism- society

Answer 6

Society: classical liberals believe that human society predates the state, while all liberals see society as a collection of diverse and potentially autonomous individuals, seeking self-determination, self-realisation and self-fulfilment. Modern liberals like Rawls, however, believe that industrialised and urban societies are those where individuals are less autonomous and therefore require state support to be free (‘positive liberty’). Neo-liberals often see society as one where individuals have been stymied by ‘positive liberty’ and that the ‘dependency culture’ must now be corrected by a radical reduction of the state. Some neo-liberals might see the ideal situation as one where ‘there is no such thing’ as society, just a collection of atomised individuals pursuing self-interest.