liberalism

• Pragmatism


  Flexible approach to society with decisions made on the basis of what works
• Tradition


  Accumulated wisdom of past societies and a connection between the generations
• Tradition


  • Creates stability
  • Links with organic change
  • Enhances humans' security
• Human imperfection


  Humans are flawed which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves
• Aspects of human imperfection


  • Psychological
  • Moral
  • Intellectual
• Organic society/state


  Society/state is more important than any individual parts
• Organic society/state


  • Underpins beliefs of authority and hierarchy
  • Underpins a cohesive society
• Paternalism


  Benign power exerted from above by the state, that governs in the interests of the people
• Interpretations of paternalism


  • Traditional conservatives (authoritarian approach, the state knows what is best so the people must do what they are told)
  • One-nation conservatives (there is an obligation on the wealthy to look after those who are unable to look after themselves)
• Paternalism is rejected by New Right Conservatives
• Libertarianism (specifically neo-liberalism)


  Upholds liberty, seeking to maximise autonomy and free choice, mainly in the economy
• Values associated with libertarianism/neo-liberalism


  • Moral
  • Economic
• John Locke 


  Human nature are guided by self interest but are concerned for others.

  The state should only govern by consent, limited government - social contract theory, for a 'true' state (rejects divine right to govern)

  Natural laws and natural rights of society predate the state.

  Private property is a natural right and the state's role is merely to arbitrate between individuals competing for trade and resources.

  Powers should be dispersed - exec, legislative, judiciary

  Not a full democrat - accepted property rights and the way this leads to some inequalities.
• Mary Wollstonecraft

  Both men and women capable of rational thought, monarchical states should be replaced by republican ones that entrench women's rights.

  Society has initialised women and this inhibited female individualism, liberated women can contribute to a free market.

  women and men are equally rational and deserve full civil liberties

  optimistic on human nature, all people should be free from discrimination.

  Agreed with social contract theory of Locke and rejected the divine rights of kings as 'absurdity'

  Vocal supporter of both the French and the American revolution.
• John Stuart Mill - bridge 


  restraint by the state - free individuals - harm principle (self-regarding / other-regarding actions)

  Individual liberty and development benefits the whole of society

  Opposed popular democracy - supported representative democracy with limited government (Locke) - create broad consensus for decision making

  Mill argued that the government should interfere as little as possible other than supporting developmental individualism, such as facilitating state education.

  Widely held opinion doesn't mean it's correct - tolerance of diverse opinions