Core Ideas: Liberalism Core Ideas: Individualism (split into egoistical
& developmental), freedom/liberty, state,
Foundational Equality: We’re all born
Liberals are bound by the belief rationalism, equality/social justice & liberal
with equal entitlement
in the primacy of the democracy
Formal equality: Equal status for all individual, advocating for
members of society, regardless of individual freedom, rights & Strands: Classic liberalism (minimal state) vs
social background (difference blind) autonomy to create the modern liberalism (reaction against free
foundation of a just society market as believed it was leading to many
Equality of opportunity: Measures to (same goal, contested
individuals not being free, freedom could no
break down barriers that hold people John Locke: All individuals born without innate ideas (knowledge accrued through
back experience, foundational equality), Tabula Rosa emphasises potential for human
imrpvoement & importance of education, individuals are rational & have no innate
Social Contract: Invisible contract
desire to harm others (developmental individualism), emphasises importance of
between people & state. Individual
individual rights. Rationalims means social contract promotes self-interest (egoistical),
seeks to protect their liberty from
state has duty to protect citizens (we have duty to respect law), law should be rooted
threat so offers consent to state to
in reason, legit state authority should be derived from people (liberal democracy), any
strengthen this. State has right to
powers beyond protecting citizens are illegitimate (minimal state), checks and
punish those who break law, but must
balances necessary & right to revolt if necessary. No one should harm others to
limit itself to protect our freedom &
pursue own interests, negative freedom, promoted, purpose of society is to protect
liberties
natural rights of members, emphasises equality & tolerance (A Letter Concerning
Meritocracy: Defined by merit & ability Toleration argued gov shouldn’t interfere with religious beliefs), protection of property
rather than social circumstances at rights.
birth. Emphasis on achieved status,
Mary Wollstonecraft: Humans are rational (created to protect their nature; moral
rather than acquired.
beings), men & women are born equal & bounded by same rationality (foundational
Mechanistic theory: State resembles equality), differences in ability between sexes are result of unequal education (not HN)
artificial machine & is created by so advocate for equality of opportunity, educated women would be better mothers &
individuals with express purpose of wives, society trains women to be superficial & dependent, ‘the mind has no gender’
protecting freedoms. Our behaviour is (formal equality), didn’t advocate for equal vote. Positive freedom (state education),
determined by interactions between enabling state (state education for women to overcome oppression), legislative reform
individuals. Society based upon equal for equal rights (state responsible for this), limited welfare state, state should provide
worth of individuals. employment opportunities. Emphasis on education to reduce gender inequality in
society, meritocracy important as prevents women from becoming dependant,
Tolerance: Celebrate the right of recognised interdependence of society (all members must be able to contribute
individuals to shape their own path in greatest potential to achieve harmony – developmental individualism), society
life. Humans possess free will & should wasting resources by denying economic independence for women.
be able to enjoy benefits of their
abilities/potential. Society should J.S. Mill: Harm principle, individual liberty should be protected, utilitarian (greatest
welcome array of lifestyle choices happiness for as many as possible should be promoted by state), representative
provided no one else’s freedom is liberal democracy, state should promote access to education for all (foundational
infringed. equality & positive freedom). Individuals are free to engage in self-regarding actions
even when deemed wrong by society (rationalism), but harm principle applies.
Limited government (advocate for Acknowledged necessity of state intervention in SOME circumstances (‘Principles of
codified constitution to limit powers) Political Economy’ suggested gov could create employment during stagnation periods
by undertaking public works projects, radical at the time, also advocated for
Egoistical individualism: Individuals
education & some welfare provision as policy should maximise happiness, still
aimt to satisfy their own wants &
advocated for free markets & most gov intervention should be temporary),
needs. No such thing as society
progressive taxation & wealth redistribution, advocated unions/worker co-ops.
(collection of egoistical individuals)
hence state should be minimal John Rawls: Rationalism (reflected in decision making), theorised the Veil Of Ignorance
(‘A Theory Of Justice’) suggesting if individuals were to design a society but didn’t
Developmental Individualism:
know their position they’d create a fair one (developmental individualism). Theory Of
Recognises our desire to live
Justice also stated society must be just & guarantee each citizen a life worth living,
harmoniously together. We mau
enabling state (intervene to distribute goods fairly & provide public goods), state
choose to make social progress &
should uphold liberty, supported liberal democracy. A just society is structured fairly
express some altruism. Thus, some
for all (TOJ), institutions should ensure equal opportunities, advocate for social
welfare & wealth redistribution should
contract supported by veil of ignorance (our rationalism enables us to understand
occur.
importance of enabling state). Advocate for intervention to provide education, health,
Negative freedom: Freedom FROM and fair opportunities to create well-ordered society, implied support for progressive
something e.g. laws to combat tax & wealth redistribution (inequality only justifiable if it benefits the least
discrimination. Classic idea, linked to advantaged – Difference Principle), welfare state.
laissez-faires & limtd. State.
Betty Friedan: Foundational equality (gender doesn’t affect inherent potential),
Positive freedom: Freedom to do fundamental aspect of HN is the pursuit of personal identity & purpose, fulfilling
something e.g. welfare state potential is essential component of happiness (so gender shouldn’t prevent this).
Oppressive laws preventing gender equality should be overturned (enabling state &
Laissez faire & Keynesianism equality of opportunity), state support for working women (e.g. affordable childcare),
removal of barriers for women seeking HE, protection of reproductive rights, enabling
Harm Principle: J.S. Mill distinguished
state & positive freedom. Advocate for formal equality, criticised societal expectations
between self-regarding & other-
for women to solely find fulfillment as wives/mothers (limits their potential) in ‘The
regarding actions. Individuals free to
& developmental), freedom/liberty, state,
Foundational Equality: We’re all born
Liberals are bound by the belief rationalism, equality/social justice & liberal
with equal entitlement
in the primacy of the democracy
Formal equality: Equal status for all individual, advocating for
members of society, regardless of individual freedom, rights & Strands: Classic liberalism (minimal state) vs
social background (difference blind) autonomy to create the modern liberalism (reaction against free
foundation of a just society market as believed it was leading to many
Equality of opportunity: Measures to (same goal, contested
individuals not being free, freedom could no
break down barriers that hold people John Locke: All individuals born without innate ideas (knowledge accrued through
back experience, foundational equality), Tabula Rosa emphasises potential for human
imrpvoement & importance of education, individuals are rational & have no innate
Social Contract: Invisible contract
desire to harm others (developmental individualism), emphasises importance of
between people & state. Individual
individual rights. Rationalims means social contract promotes self-interest (egoistical),
seeks to protect their liberty from
state has duty to protect citizens (we have duty to respect law), law should be rooted
threat so offers consent to state to
in reason, legit state authority should be derived from people (liberal democracy), any
strengthen this. State has right to
powers beyond protecting citizens are illegitimate (minimal state), checks and
punish those who break law, but must
balances necessary & right to revolt if necessary. No one should harm others to
limit itself to protect our freedom &
pursue own interests, negative freedom, promoted, purpose of society is to protect
liberties
natural rights of members, emphasises equality & tolerance (A Letter Concerning
Meritocracy: Defined by merit & ability Toleration argued gov shouldn’t interfere with religious beliefs), protection of property
rather than social circumstances at rights.
birth. Emphasis on achieved status,
Mary Wollstonecraft: Humans are rational (created to protect their nature; moral
rather than acquired.
beings), men & women are born equal & bounded by same rationality (foundational
Mechanistic theory: State resembles equality), differences in ability between sexes are result of unequal education (not HN)
artificial machine & is created by so advocate for equality of opportunity, educated women would be better mothers &
individuals with express purpose of wives, society trains women to be superficial & dependent, ‘the mind has no gender’
protecting freedoms. Our behaviour is (formal equality), didn’t advocate for equal vote. Positive freedom (state education),
determined by interactions between enabling state (state education for women to overcome oppression), legislative reform
individuals. Society based upon equal for equal rights (state responsible for this), limited welfare state, state should provide
worth of individuals. employment opportunities. Emphasis on education to reduce gender inequality in
society, meritocracy important as prevents women from becoming dependant,
Tolerance: Celebrate the right of recognised interdependence of society (all members must be able to contribute
individuals to shape their own path in greatest potential to achieve harmony – developmental individualism), society
life. Humans possess free will & should wasting resources by denying economic independence for women.
be able to enjoy benefits of their
abilities/potential. Society should J.S. Mill: Harm principle, individual liberty should be protected, utilitarian (greatest
welcome array of lifestyle choices happiness for as many as possible should be promoted by state), representative
provided no one else’s freedom is liberal democracy, state should promote access to education for all (foundational
infringed. equality & positive freedom). Individuals are free to engage in self-regarding actions
even when deemed wrong by society (rationalism), but harm principle applies.
Limited government (advocate for Acknowledged necessity of state intervention in SOME circumstances (‘Principles of
codified constitution to limit powers) Political Economy’ suggested gov could create employment during stagnation periods
by undertaking public works projects, radical at the time, also advocated for
Egoistical individualism: Individuals
education & some welfare provision as policy should maximise happiness, still
aimt to satisfy their own wants &
advocated for free markets & most gov intervention should be temporary),
needs. No such thing as society
progressive taxation & wealth redistribution, advocated unions/worker co-ops.
(collection of egoistical individuals)
hence state should be minimal John Rawls: Rationalism (reflected in decision making), theorised the Veil Of Ignorance
(‘A Theory Of Justice’) suggesting if individuals were to design a society but didn’t
Developmental Individualism:
know their position they’d create a fair one (developmental individualism). Theory Of
Recognises our desire to live
Justice also stated society must be just & guarantee each citizen a life worth living,
harmoniously together. We mau
enabling state (intervene to distribute goods fairly & provide public goods), state
choose to make social progress &
should uphold liberty, supported liberal democracy. A just society is structured fairly
express some altruism. Thus, some
for all (TOJ), institutions should ensure equal opportunities, advocate for social
welfare & wealth redistribution should
contract supported by veil of ignorance (our rationalism enables us to understand
occur.
importance of enabling state). Advocate for intervention to provide education, health,
Negative freedom: Freedom FROM and fair opportunities to create well-ordered society, implied support for progressive
something e.g. laws to combat tax & wealth redistribution (inequality only justifiable if it benefits the least
discrimination. Classic idea, linked to advantaged – Difference Principle), welfare state.
laissez-faires & limtd. State.
Betty Friedan: Foundational equality (gender doesn’t affect inherent potential),
Positive freedom: Freedom to do fundamental aspect of HN is the pursuit of personal identity & purpose, fulfilling
something e.g. welfare state potential is essential component of happiness (so gender shouldn’t prevent this).
Oppressive laws preventing gender equality should be overturned (enabling state &
Laissez faire & Keynesianism equality of opportunity), state support for working women (e.g. affordable childcare),
removal of barriers for women seeking HE, protection of reproductive rights, enabling
Harm Principle: J.S. Mill distinguished
state & positive freedom. Advocate for formal equality, criticised societal expectations
between self-regarding & other-
for women to solely find fulfillment as wives/mothers (limits their potential) in ‘The
regarding actions. Individuals free to
