Liberalism

• Locke believed a minimal, or nightwatchman state, was crucial as a stateless society is one devoid of freedom. The state's only job should be to protect negative freedom - freedom from interference.
• Locke believed that society was individualistic and that the rights of the individual should be at the centre of society.
• Locke believed that humans were naturally rational and guided by the pursuit of self-interest, yet mindful of others' concern.
• Locke rejected the divine right to govern and the state actually needs consent from the governed and people should bare the means to overthrow government if they wish.
• Locke believed in laissez faire economics and that state policy should be to respect the natural right to private property.
• Mary Wollstonecraft commented that intellectually, men and women were not that different. They can both act in an equal way.
• Wollstonecraft believed that men were truly prepared in society whilst women were not and that women should be independent not dependant on their husbands (divine right of husbands).
• Wollstonecraft believed that a free market economy would be energised by free women.
• John Stuart Mill's harm principle depicts that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to others.
• Mill believed the larger the state the more it would threaten freedom and negative liberty.
• In 'On Liberty', Mill wrote that the only time power can be exercised by the state is to prevent harm to others and enforce the harm principle.
• Mill believed in representative democracy and a plural voting system - if you went to university you should get six votes.
• Mill also believed that human nature was fundamentally rational but there was room for humans to grow.
• Mill believed in laissez faire economics and that equal taxation penalises the rich as they worked harder so deserved more.
• Rawls believed the economy should be tempered as the state has an obligation to enhance the poorest citizens.
• John Rawls believed in an enabling state to protect positive liberty and give citizens the opportunity to grow.
• Rawls believed that there should be equality of opportunity in society because of the veil of ignorance - those born with disadvantages should have the same opportunities as others.
• Rawls' view on human nature was that mankind is selfish yet empathetic and values both individual liberty as well as the plight of those around them.
• Rawls believed the state had a duty for public spending and services as it needed to guarantee equality of opportunity.
• Betty Friedan believed the state be an enabling state, in particular legislate on rights to protect women.
• Friedan wrote in The Feminine Mystique that society condemnded women more than human nature and transmitted these via 'cultural channels' and Friedan wanted to challenge this.
• Friedan believed in positive liberty for women in that they should be able to choose their own career path rather than be confined to the private sector.
• John Rawls believed in the importance of owning private property as he wanted a 'property-owning democracy' to create a more equal society.