To What Extent Do Liberals Agree On The State Flashcards
(14 cards)
1: The Necessity of the State
Topic sentence
-While liberals’ justifications and expectations of the state’s role diverge, they unite on the fundamental necessity of the state. Classical liberals remain deeply cautious of the state’s potential to curtail individual liberty, whereas modern liberals are more concerned about the dangers of an inactive or indifferent state that fails to address entrenched social and economic inequalities
1: The Necessity of the State
Classical Liberals
- rooted in Locke’s social contract theory, classical liberals view the state as a product of rational consent, designed to primarily to product negative rights- such as life, liberty and property- from infringement by others.
-this conception leads to the minimalist “night-watchman” state, whose sole function is to uphold law and order and preserve individual freedoms through non-interference. In this view, the state should intervene only when absolutely necessary, and any expansion beyond this narrow role is regarded as a potential threat to personal autonomy
-classical liberals therefore harbour a deep mistrust of concentrated political power arguing that excessive government intervention risks eroding civil liberties and obstructing the spontaneous order of a free society
1: the necessity of the state
Modern liberals
- in contrast, while modern liberals do advocate for a more active and enabling role, they accept the state’s necessity.
-influenced by thinkers like John Rawls, they argue that formal legal equality is insufficient in a society marked by structural disadvantage. Instead, the state must work to ensure positive freedom- the ability of individuals to fulfil their full potential- by addressing social and economic barriers that limit real opportunity.
-from this perspective, the state’s purpose extends beyond mere protection to the creation of fair conditions through public services, welfare provision, and redistributive policies
-although modern liberals remain mindful of the dangers of unchecked authority, they are generally less fearful of state intervention when it is exercised within a constitutional framework of checks and balances aimed at advancing justice and equity
-they view the state not as a necessary evil when its power is harnessed to promote meaningful freedom and social justice
1: Necessity of the state
Conclusion
-thus while they differ in their understanding of how a state should function in order to bring about liberty, both classical and modern liberals are united in their belief that the state is essential to secure liberty. They both acknowledge the potential threat posed by state overreach and insist on constitutional limits to its power, yet they share the view that a legitimate, accountable state is vital to ensuring fairness, justice and the protection of individual rights in society.
2: the role of the state concerning welfare and equal opportunity
Topic sentence
Both strand of liberalism diverge markedly on the role of the state in promoting welfare and equal opportunity, reflecting fundamental divisions regarding freedom, justice and market
2: role of the state concerning welfare and equal opportunity
Classical liberals
-classical liberals champion minimal state interference, asserting that individual liberty and free-market competition provide the fairest mechanism for rewarding talent and effort.
-they argue that formal equality- equal rights before the law- is sufficient for individual development, and that unequal outcomes are both inevitable and justifiable in a meritocratic society
-John Locke’s emphasis on the natural right to property, rooted in individual labour, underpins the classical liberal belief that the fruits of one’s labour should not be a redistributed by the state .
-in this view, as long as individuals are free to compete, the market will organically reward those who are most capable and industrious. Consequently, classical liberals regard economic inequality not as a problem to be solved, but as a natural reflection of differing abilities and choices. State intervention, therefore, is viewed with suspicion, seen as a potential distortion of market efficiency and an infringement on personal liberty.
2: role of the state concerning welfare and equal opportunity
Modern liberals
-in contrast, modern liberals contend that formal equality alone is insufficient to achieve genuine meritocracy. They argue that entrenched social and economic barriers- such as poverty, discrimination and unequal access to education or healthcare- undermine fair competition and entrench inequality.
-influenced by thinkers like Betty Friedan, they promote a broader conception of positive freedom, one that requires active state intervention to ensure that all individuals have the real capacity to pursue their goals.
-this includes support for welfare provision, affirmative action, and regulatory frameworks that expand opportunities particularly or historically marginalised groups
-for modern liberals, the state is not an obstacle to liberty but a vital mechanism for levelling the playing field and enabling individuals to flourish on their own terms
2: the role of the state concerning welfare and equal opportunity
Conclusion
Thus while classical liberals see the state’s role as limited to the protection of negative rights and individual autonomy, modern liberals embrace a more expansive, enabling role for the state in promoting equality of opportunity. Outlining the deep divisions between classical and modern liberals’s perception of the state’s role concerning welfare and equal opportunity
3: the role of the state in the economy
Topic sentence
Despite a shared recognition of the state’s importance in maintaining social order, liberals diverge significantly in their views on the extent and nature of state intervention in the economy
3: the role of the state in the economy
Classical liberals
-classical liberals advocate for minimal government involvement, championing laissez-faire capitalism and the belief- rooted in the work of Adam Smith- that the “invisible hand” of the free market is the most efficient and just mechanism for the allocation of resources
- they argue that state regulation and taxation distort natural market forces, reduce efficiency and most critically infringe upon individual liberty.
-from this perspective, the protection of private property and the right to retain the rewards of one’s labour are seen as fundamental rights. Economic freedom is viewed as an extension of personal autonomy, and any encroachment by the state is feared as a potential step towards authoritarianism or erosion of civil liberties
3: the role of the state in the economy
Modern liberals
-by contrast, modern liberals endorse a more interventionist role for the state in the economy, grounded in the belief that unregulated capitalism can lead to significant injustice, including economic inequality, monopolistic practices and exploitation of vulnerable groups.
-they argue that state regulation is not only compatible with liberty but essential to its realisation
-the modern liberal conception of the “enabling state” seeks to correct market failures, redistribute wealth more equitably and provide protections for workers and consumers.
-drawing on egalitarian principles of John Rawls, modern liberals contend that justice requires the economy to be structured in a way that benefits the least advantaged, ensuring that prosperity is not accumulated by the few at the expense of the many.
-in their view, economic freedom without fairness is hollow and only through responsible state intervention can genuine equality of opportunity be achieved
3: the role of the state in the economy
Conclusion
Thus while classical liberals view economic intervention as a direct threat to liberty and advocate for minimal state involvement, modern liberals see state regulation as a vital tool for promoting social justice and protecting individuals from the excesses of unfettered capitalism. While they unite on the necessity of the state, thy fundamentally diverge on the scope of its involvement in the economy.
Introduction
Overall, while liberals agree on the fundamental necessity of the state, they differ significantly on its desired scope and function. Classical liberals advocate for minimal state intervention, fearing that excessive government power threatens individual liberty and favouring a “night-watchman” state limited to the protection of negative rights such as life, liberty and property. In contrast, modern liberals embrace a more expansive role for the state seeing it as essential for correcting social and economic inequalities, and for enabling individuals to achieve positive freedom. Despite converging on the necessity of the state, they diverge fundamentally on how the state should actively safeguard fundamental rights and uphold justice.
