| What was John Stuart Mill's (1806-1873) Harm Principle?
-How does this influence the Role of the State? | The harm Principle was JS Mill's Theory that Individuals are their Masters in Every Way. No Intervention should occur unless it is harming others
-It is thus Acceptable to harm oneself, but no one else. For example, Liberals wouldn't ban Smoking but may ban Smoking in a Pub or restaurant.
-But causing too much Harm to oneself can affect others, like Family Members. This should be Prevetned too.
-The State should only intervene when its Necessary to Protect Society. Other than that, it should allow Individual Libetty by being Restricted |
| What did JS Mill say about Tolerance? | -Society should Accept and Celebrate a Range of Lifestyles, Religion, Beliefs and Cultures. This would lead to a Range of Ideas forming, creating Human Progress, Development and Improvement
-In 'On Liberty' (1859) JS Mill argued for Free Speech to create a Free Market of Arguments and to allow Open Criticism |
| What did JS Mill find about Utilitarianism? (Emphasizes Maximizing Overall happiness or Well Being as Basis of Decision Making) | -JS Mill said there were Higher and Lower forms of Pleasure. He associated Middle Class Values, Music and Theatre with Higher, and states they were Superior to and more Progressive than Lower forms of Pleasure, as enjoyed by the Working Classes (Elitist?) |
| Why was JS Mill afraid of Universal Suffrage? | -He said how Universal Suffrage leads to Tyranny of the Majority, and in 'On Liberty' (1859) he looked at how Individual Freedom can be Protected
-The Franchise should be based on Education Qualifications,s and also support Women to have the Vote. JS Mill was a Liberal MP and a Civil Servant so. |
| Why did JS Mill, in his later years, tackle with the Limited Role of the State idea? | -Liberalism should tackle the Social Problems, and not just blame it on the Working Classes for Disadvantages for which they weren't Responsible
-This is JS Mill's sort of Realising the Excess of Capitalism had finally begun to get out of hand, as well as Socialism coming into Popularity across Europe |
| What was John Locke (1632-1704) view on the State? | -Often regarded as the Father of Liberalism, Locke said the Government is Limited, and Consensual
The right to Govern comes from the People Themselves, not because of Traditions or Religious Authority
-Governments must be Limited, respecting Individual Rights, which are Life, Liberty and Property |
| What is the Mechanistic and Social Contract Theory? Link Locke to this | -Locke disagreed with Hobbes about Human Nature - it wasn't Chaotic and Violent. Locke said the State was needed to Judge Disputed
-The Mechanistic Theory suggests that the State is an Artificial creation, that was made by Man to Protect Individual Freedom
-Locke using that Developed the Social Contract Theory, which argues Citizens and Government would make an Imaginary Document, in which the Government would Respect and Preserve the Freedom of the People, in Return the Citizens would give some of their Freedom and follow the Rule of Law. If the Government acted unlawfully, the Citizens can Break this Document |
| Was Locke a Supporter of Democracy? | -Sort of but not fully Democratic
-Did argue for the Separation of Powers between Executive, Legislature and Judiciary to prevent Tyranny and Ensure Rule of Law
-Sounds like a Liberal Democracy |
| When Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-97) was writing, what were the State of Women's Rights?
-What did this lead to? | -Wollstonecraft studying the Liberal Ideas of Rights, Liberty and Reason, itself Inspired by the Enlightenment and French Revolution was Confused - why was Women getting none of these Rights, and why were these New Ideas only for Men
-Wollstonecraft was writing in a Period where Women were just the Property of their Father or Husband. Wollstonecraft wrote 'A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) argued that Legal and Formal Rights should apply both to Men and Women, rather than to Men |
| How did Wollstonecraft contribute to Human Rights? | -Mary believes that if women receive a good education, they can contribute a lot to society. Education helps women become more independent and able to make their own decisions. Mary thinks educated women can offer more to society than many of their wealthy but idle peers.
-She said these Women were Trapped in a 'Gilt Cage' and in 'A Vindication of the Rights of Women' she criticised Rousseau's Desire for Girl's Education to Focus on being Supportive Companions to Men. Independence! |
| Why does Wollstonecraft Express the Importance of Motherhood to Women? | -Mary Wollstonecraft emphasized the importance of motherhood to women because she recognized its natural role and influence on education and upbringing. She believed that empowered mothers could contribute positively to society by nurturing morally and intellectually sound individuals. While advocating for women's rights and independence, Wollstonecraft also saw motherhood as a source of personal fulfilment and a potential avenue for social reform. |
| Fun Fact: What did Mary Wollstonecraft's Second Child do? | -Wrote Frankenstein! Pretty cool indeed. |
| What is the Public and Private Sphere? Why is Betty Friedan (1921-2006) Relevant here? | -Friedman looked into the Role of the Public and Private Spheres, which are Central to Liberal Thinking
-These Spheres are used to keep the State limited in the Sense that the Private Sphere should see No State Intervention and that Tyranny and Authoritarianism come from Exactly That
-Friedan agreed with Limited Government, but Women were Trapped in Domestic Life, and needed to Leave the Private Sphere and enter the World of Politics, Work and Education. What made Friedman a Staunch Liberal, is she Believed Hugely to be a matter of Choicer and Individual Freedom |
| Why was Friedman's 'The Feminine Mystique' (1963) so Inspiring and Impactful? | -This Ushered in the Development of Second Wave Feminism. Very Influential and Ground breaking for American Women
-Written during Friedman's time as a Suburban Housewife, it examines the False Myth/Belief that Women are Satisfied by Domestic Life. Friedan argued Many were Bored and had Sacrificed their desires and Positive Freedom for Family Life and had 0 Choice due to Social Expectations. This goes completely against Core Liberal Values |
| What did Friedman do in terms of Legislation? | -Being an Activist and a Feminist, who set up the National Organization for Women in 1966, she was a Central Figure for Women Rights to be Expanded and most importantly, make women Respected |
| What did Friedman talk about in 'The Second Stage' (1981) which Angered Feminists? | -Friedman criticised Feminism for being too Radical and Alienating Many Women who were Happy with a Domestic Family Based life.
-This thus confirms her to be a Liberal. To allow the Freedom of Choice, Equality of Opportunity not Outcome and Individualism |
| What was John Rawls (1921-2002) 'Veil of Ignorance' about? | -He wants you to Imagine we are behind this 'Veil of Ignorance', in that, we have 0 Clue where we will end up in society
-We don't know our Gender, Race, Religion, Talents etc etc..
-He argues, that because of the lack of Knowledge, we would usually opt for a much Fairer System, in case we end up at the Bottom
-Thus the System should be based on Freedom and Equal Opportunities, where Inequality in Income is not Huge. This should be considered as Correct and Truly Fair |
| What did John Rawls talk about in his 'A Theory of Justice' (1971) | -Rawls argues that the Aim of Government should be to Achieve Liberty for All, accompanied by Equality of Opportunity leading to a Free Society
-This may include Inequality, only if this would help the Poorest Improve their Positions |
| What did Rawls say the role of Liberalism is? | -Creating the Social Conditions where People can Flourish and live what they want to Live
-Liberalism shouldn't tell people how they should live in morality. |
