Liberalism
Core principles >
Individualism: Freedom/Liberty:
-Main idea is that individuals are -Individuals have the ability to act
primary in society, the nature of out of their free will and own self-
individuals is self-interested and interest.
autonomous.
-Classical liberals argue for
-John Locke and John Stuart Mill negative freedom > no
believed that individuals are the government interference.
key to human progress and obtain
natural rights such as freedom and - Modern liberals argue for
property. positive freedom which gives
individuals the ability to achieve
-Mary Wollstonecraft argued for their potential.
gender equality for women in
education. -John Stuart Mill used the harm
principle to prevent individuals
from harming others by limiting
freedom to an extent.
Equality/Social justice: Liberal democracy:
-Individuals have more equal value -Freedom and rights of individuals
and should be treated fairly in are protected under a democracy
society. and limits too much power.
-Formal equality > are equal -Features of liberal democracy
legal rights given to every include elections, limited
individual. government, civil liberties and
rule of law.
-Equality of opportunity >
everyone has a fair chance -John Locke argued that the
(gender, race, disability). government requires the consent
of the people (Demos Kratos –
-John Rawls proposed the concept power of the people).
of the ‘veil of ignorance’ which is
the fair distribution of resources -John Stuart Mill supported
amongst every individual. liberal democracy but warned us of
tyranny of the majority.
Core principles >
Individualism: Freedom/Liberty:
-Main idea is that individuals are -Individuals have the ability to act
primary in society, the nature of out of their free will and own self-
individuals is self-interested and interest.
autonomous.
-Classical liberals argue for
-John Locke and John Stuart Mill negative freedom > no
believed that individuals are the government interference.
key to human progress and obtain
natural rights such as freedom and - Modern liberals argue for
property. positive freedom which gives
individuals the ability to achieve
-Mary Wollstonecraft argued for their potential.
gender equality for women in
education. -John Stuart Mill used the harm
principle to prevent individuals
from harming others by limiting
freedom to an extent.
Equality/Social justice: Liberal democracy:
-Individuals have more equal value -Freedom and rights of individuals
and should be treated fairly in are protected under a democracy
society. and limits too much power.
-Formal equality > are equal -Features of liberal democracy
legal rights given to every include elections, limited
individual. government, civil liberties and
rule of law.
-Equality of opportunity >
everyone has a fair chance -John Locke argued that the
(gender, race, disability). government requires the consent
of the people (Demos Kratos –
-John Rawls proposed the concept power of the people).
of the ‘veil of ignorance’ which is
the fair distribution of resources -John Stuart Mill supported
amongst every individual. liberal democracy but warned us of
tyranny of the majority.
