liberalism

Question 1

list of liberal thinkers

Answer 1

John Locke
Mary Wollstonecraft
John Stuart Mill
John Rawls
Betty Friedman

Question 2

Locke’s belief on the state

Answer 2

He argued that the state was needed as an arbiter to judge disputes

Question 3

Locke’s social contract theory

Answer 3

argued that the citizens and the government would make a hypothetical contract. The government would promise to respect and preserve the freedoms of the people and in return the citizens would give up some of their freedoms and promise to follow the rule of law

Question 4

Locke’s book which is regarded as the cornerstone of liberal thought

Answer 4

Two Treatises of Government (1690)

Question 5

John Locke is seen as the central figure of what form of liberalism?

Answer 5

classical liberalism

Question 6

Locke’s rejection of traditional Godly views:

Answer 6

he denies the traditional, medieval principle that the state was part of God’s creation. He rejected the notion that ‘ordinary’ people were ‘subjects’ to the state, with a quasi-religious obligation to obey the monarch’s rulings

Question 7

Locke’s view on the state

Answer 7

the state’s structure must embody the natural rights and natural liberties that preceded it. His ideal state would reflect the principle that its ‘citizens’ had voluntarily consented to accept the state’s rulings in return for the state improving their situation

Question 8

Locke’s view on the limited government

Answer 8

the state should be limited to always representing the interests of the governed and always requiring the ongoing consent of the governed

Question 9

key principles of John Locke

Answer 9

• social contract
• limited government
• checks and balances
• consent
• the right to rebel
• natural rights
• religious toleration

Question 10

Wollstone writing:

Answer 10

she wrote ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’, arguing that legal and formal rights should apply to both men and women rather than just to men as women were clearly rational individuals

Question 11

Wollstone’s primary claim on views on human nature:

Answer 11

it was guided by reason, and should apply to all humans beings, male and female

Question 12

what did Wollstone suggest was a violation of ‘government by consent’?

Answer 12

women being unable to vote

Question 13

Wollstone’s belief of the French and American revolution?

Answer 13

she attacked Burke’s critique of the French revolution and his defence of aristocratic rule. She applauded the French Revolution’s emphasis upon ‘citizens’ and its apparent indifference to gender differences

Question 14

what key insights did JSM offer?

Answer 14

harm principle, free will, the despotism of custom, experiments in living, utilitarianism, the marketplace of ideas and electoral reform

Question 15

what is harm principle?

Answer 15

we should be free to pursue actions that in no way constrain the liberty of others

Question 16

JSM belief on the role of government?

Answer 16

must be restricted to allow individual liberty and to prevent tyranny, but the government should interfere to protect society

Question 17

what does JSM argue in ‘On Liberty’ in 1859?

Answer 17

argues in favour of free speech as a way to create a free market of arguments and to allow for open criticisms of beliefs that are false

Question 18

JSM belief in limited role of government later in life?

Answer 18

he accepted that some degree of state intervention was justified to prevent the poor from enduring injusitice

Question 19

JSM belief on inheritance tax?

Answer 19

he was in favour of inheritance tax, as he saw the transmission of wealth across the genarations gave some individuals an advantage over others

Question 20

JSM belief in gender equality?

Answer 20

he believed in complete equality of men and women

Question 21

JSM view on the despotism of custom?

Answer 21

Mill warns us against the mediocrity of public opinion. He believes that there is a tendency to tell everyone to act in the same manner. This crushes self-expression and is therefore contrary to the right and proper goal of a liberal society

Question 22

JSM on how to guard against despotism of custom?

Answer 22

we must avoid forcing out opinions on others unless we are certain of their truth. Assumptions must be subject to the marketplace of ideas. In doing so, the truth will emerge from discussion and experience

Question 23

JSM on majority opinion?

Answer 23

it can be wrong as the majority holds on true authority and no absolute certainty. To support this argument, Mill cites popular opinion of the past which has since been rejected by contemporary past

Question 24

JSM quote on utilitarianism

Answer 24

“actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverrse of happiness”

Question 25

JSM view on utilitarianism

Answer 25

adopts a more qualitative aspect to his search for the greatest happiness for the greatest number

Question 26

JSM on female emancipation

Answer 26

he was a passionate advocate of electoral reform. He advocated for the issue before it was politicised.

Question 27

What does Rawls attempt to reconcile?

Answer 27

individual freedom with the avoidance of excessive inequality in society

Question 28

John Rawls 'veil of ignorance'

Answer 28

he invites us to imagine that we are behind a hypothetical 'veil of ignorance' in which we don't know how and where we will end up in society

Question 29

Rawls' 'A Theory of Justice'

Answer 29

he argues that the aim of government should be to achieve liberty for all. This must be accompanies by equality of opportunity. He suggests that a redistribution of wealth was consistent with liberal principles

Question 30

Rawls belief on the role of liberalism:

Answer 30

create the social conditions in which people can flourish and live the life they choose to. It should not tell people how to morally live their lives

Question 31

Rawls rejection on utilitarianism:

Answer 31

it failed to take into account the range of desires and goals pursued by individual people, and some would find their interests ignored

Question 32

Rawls on inequality:

Answer 32

there would always be a degree of inequality, but said that a just society should aim to minimise the difference between the outcomes for the best off and the poorest

Question 33

Rawls on the economy

Answer 33

rejected the two extremes of communism and unregulated capitalism, instead favouring a 'property-owning democracy'

Question 34

define foundational equality

Answer 34

individuals required not just formal equality under the law and constitution but also greater social and economic equality

Question 35

how did Rawls believe 'foundation equality' could be achieved?

Answer 35

through significant redistribution of wealth via an enabling state, with extensive public spending and progressive taxation

Question 36

Rawls belief on human nature

Answer 36

rational and empathetic

Question 37

what is the central theme of liberal ideology:

Answer 37

a commitment to the individual and the desire to construct a society in which people can satisfy their interests and achieve fulfilment

Question 38

what differs liberalists from socialists?

Answer 38

liberalists believe that although individuals are entitled to equal legal and political rights, they should be rewarded in line with their talents and willingness to work, not simply their needs

Question 39

what is classical liberalism characterised by?

Answer 39

a belief in a 'minimal state' whose function is limited to the maintenance of domestic order and personal security

Question 40

what is modern liberalism characterised by?

Answer 40

it accepts that the state should help people to held themselves

Question 41

classical liberals belief in individualism

Answer 41

'egotistical individualism' the view that people are essentially self-seeking and self-reliant. Minimises the importance of society, seeing it as little more than a collection of independent individuals

Question 42

classical liberals view on the state?

Answer 42

the state should act as the 'night watchman', its role being to protect individual freedom through law

Question 43

modern liberals view on the state

Answer 43

they call for an enabling state. They argue that a limited state leaves capitalism free to create huge inequalities. This results in many people being unable to achieve their personal goals and potential. The state needs to intervene, to ensure that all individuals have equality of opportunity and positive freedom

Question 44

the original features of a liberal state:

Answer 44

- there are bound to be conflicts between individuals and groups, the states should exist to reduce conflict - the laws established by the state should be based on liberal conception of natural law - the state should promote tolerance - the liberal state should be democratic - the state should promote meritocracy - the state should be organised on the basis of rational ideas of government rather than on traditional principles - the state should operate the rule of law - the state should tolerate and protect the interests of minorities

Question 45

What was the enlightenment also called?

Answer 45

the 'age of reason'- due to its application of reason

Question 46

Did classical liberalism view freedom in a positive or negative sense?

Answer 46

negative

Question 47

what was harm principle?

Answer 47

an individual's actions should be unecumbered unless they negatively affect others

Question 48

Who did classical liberalism influence?

Answer 48

the founding fathers

Question 49

How did Locke define natural rights?

Answer 49

as 'life, liberty and estate '

Question 50

What is foundational equality?

Answer 50

a liberal belief that all individuals are born with natural rights that entitle them to liberty in pursuit of happiness and avoidance of pain

Question 51

developmental individualism

Answer 51

the state intervening can assist individuals' development