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Liberalism - Coggle Diagram
Liberalism
Key Terms
Foundational equality: Rights that all humans have by virtue of being born and they cannot be taken away.
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Egoistical individualism: The idea that freedom is associated with self-interest and self reliance (positive).
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Human Nature
Classical Liberals:
All classical liberals believe that individuals are rational or capable of rationality and prefer to pursue their enlightened self-interest.
John Locke - Human nature is guided by tolerance and reason, we are self interested but are concerned for others. People established a civil society to resolve conflicts.
Mary Wollstonecraft - Human beings were created to perfect their nature as rational and moral beings. Both men and women are capable of rational thought.
Modern Liberals:
John Rawls - Humans can be selfish and value their individual freedom however, they are sympathetic to those less fortunate than themselves.
Betty Friedan - Culture has evolved so that human nature is patriarchal and discriminatory towards women. Individuals should be free to seek control over their own lives. (Human nature did not condemn women to underachieve, it was liberal attitudes on women).
All modern liberals believe that individuals crave freedom but acknowledge their obligations to help the less fortunate.
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John Stuart Mill - Human nature is rational but not fixed and is capable of progressing to higher levels.
The State
Classical Liberals:
All classical liberals believe the state should be limited and controlled by government based on representative democracy. Minimalist state.
John Locke - Believes in a limited government and that the state should be there to protect our freedom. "A stateless society os one devoid of freedom". The state should only govern by consent from the people.
Mary Wollstonecraft - Mary argues heavily against the monarchy and hereditary privileges upheld by ancient regime. These states should be replaced with republican states in order to entrench women rights.
Both strands agree on the principle of government by consent and the concept of a limited government. (Although their definition of what constitutes limited government differs).
All liberals agree that the state is ‘necessary’ to avoid disorder and a Hobbesian state of nature. But liberals also agree that the state is a potential problem given that it has the capacity to threaten individual liberty. Liberals therefore agree on a limited state.
Modern Liberals:
Modern liberals believe state intervention can be justified on the grounds of social justice, equality and social welfare, and is therefore an enabling state. The power of the state and government should be controlled by constitutional rules and robust democracy. Enabling state.
John Rawls - Strongly interventionist state to counteract the dangers of monopoly. An enabling state will assist developmental individualism via public spending on services.
Betty Friedan - The state should intervene in the public sphere to prevent discrimination against women.
John Stuart Mill - Only constitutional limits on government power, a system of checks and balances and legal protection on basic rights will keep the "vultures" at bay. The state should be a representative democracy and be mindful of minority rights.
The Economy
Classical Liberals
All classical liberals believe that the economy should be based on free markets, free trade and a lack of state intervention.
John Locke: Private property is a natural rights and the states role is merely to arbitrate between individuals competing for trade and resources.
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Modern Liberals
All modern liberals believe that the injustices thrown up capitalism should be reduced by the state through welfare, equality of opportunity and limited redistribution of income.
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Betty Friedan: Liberated women would enhance the free-market economy and legislation must be put in place to stop women from being discriminated against in the workplace.
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Society
Modern Liberals
All modern liberals believe that society should embrace a degree of social welfare and social justice. Individualism should be tempered with social action and recognition of a common good.
John Rawls: Rawls' rationalistic 'veil of ignorance' argued that individuals would choose a society that offered opportunities for the less fortunate to improve their condition.
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Classical Liberals
All classical liberals believe that society is naturally competitive, being made up free individuals who each want to pursue their own interests. Such a vision of society does not recognise collective aims such as common goods.
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