LIB human nature

• Liberals reject Conservative and Catholic ideals that human nature is flawed and humankind is not capable of improvement
• Reformation led to the Enlightenment in the 17th-18th century
• Enlightenment sought to translate religious ideas of individualism into political and secular spheres. Humans are capable of self improvement and rational
• Humans reach rational conclusions based on tolerance, reasoned arguments and philosophical considerations
• Individuals pursue self interests and are naturally competitive but sensitive to each other
• Classical - favour negative freedoms -> J.S. Mill
• Classical - Locke said prior to the state humans lived in a state of nature underpinned by natural law
• Modern - support positive and negative freedoms
• Modern - less optimistic about human nature, believe human potential should be nurtured by education and the active creation of a free, progressive society
• Modern - Wollstonecraft said men and women are equally rational and humans were created to perfect their nature as rational and moral beings
• Modern - J.S. Mill said humans are capable of improvement, they are not fixed
• Modern - Rawls said humans can be selfish and value individual freedom but are sympathetic to the less fortunate
• Modern - Friedan said humans should be free to seek control over their own lives and the realisation of their potential
• Modern - Friedan said human nature did not condemn women to underachievement