State

• Locke:

  -Opponent of absolutism: the idea of an absolute monarch or government with complete unchecked power

  -Social contract theory: state is developed voluntarily; people create the government therefore the government serves the people

  -Limited government

  -People to be voluntarily part of the state- it's not forced upon them

  -If the government fails or misuses their power they have broken the contract and the people can take their power away by electing a new more suitable government
• Wollstonecraft:

  -State must provide formal equality- women to have same legal and political rights as men and have their civil liberties protected by law

  -Social contract theory: state is developed voluntarily; people create the government therefore the government serves the people
• Wollstonecraft:

  -If the government fails or misuses their power they have broken the contract and the people can take their power away by electing a new more suitable government

  -Opponent of absolutism: the idea of an absolute monarch or government with complete unchecked power

  -People to be voluntarily part of the state- it's not forced upon them
• Stuart Mill:

  -Harm principle: government should only be able to restrict actions that cause harm to others

  -Limited government

  -Government should have a role in providing for the most vulnerable to a degree to help them flourish

  -Later in life altered his view on limited government: some state intervention necessary to prevent the poor from suffering injustice, like implementing inheritance tax to prevent monopolisation; still limited government intervention
• Rawls:

  -Primary role of the state to protect individual rights and liberties

  -State to secure equality of opportunity

  -State to guarantee equal basic liberties, like freedom of speech, religion and assembly

  -State to reduce inequalities and ensure that everyone has fair social and economic opportunities

  -Limited government intervention
• Friedan:

  -Importance placed on the state protecting women's rights

  -State to secure equality of opportunity

  -State to reduce inequalities and ensure that everyone has fair social and economic opportunities

  -State to provide social welfare and support, particularly to the poor and women

  -State to protect women's autonomy over abortion