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Summary Liberalism Notes (Politics Edexcel)
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Liberalism Notes for A-Level for paper 1 (Politics Edexcel)
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Liberals on Human Nature- AgreeHold a positive and progressive view of human nature based on rationalism
- Core value: Individual freedom, each individual is the best to judge on
what is best for them - Reject the view that humans are limited
- Views all individuals as unique and highly capable and if given the
opportunity will advance
- Views humans from the standpoint of equality and so rejects superiority
based on birthright and prior social conditioning
Classical Modern
Wollstonecraft Less positive of human nature than classical
Writing in the 18th Century argued the liberals
rationality of women. Women and men See humanity as having potential but on a
should have the same sets of rights, journey of progress
challenged the orthodox view that women Mill-Agreed w/locke holding a positive view
were less rational than men and therefore on human nature, it was not fixed but had
entitled to fewer rights the potential to progress (harm principle)
‘ the mind has no gender’
Harm principle: The actions of individuals
Locke- Humans are mindful of others + even should be limited to prevent harm to others
in the state of nature people would respect
others and have a good life
Rawls in A Theory of Justice (1971) he argued that the individual rights, freedoms
and beliefs of each person must be respected.
Agreement Disagreement
Rationalism - All human are rational beings
using logic + reason to determine what is
in their own best interests
- Are intellectually capable of making
moral,political and economic
decisions
- Locke: ‘Reason must be our last job and
guide everything’
- Wollsencraft: Women are equally as
rational as men
Individualism -Individual is best judge on
what is best for them
, State - Liberals fundamentally agree, but disagree on the details
- Classical and modern liberals support the principle of self-government
that groups of people should have the power to rule themselves to help
protect civil liberties
- They also see the state as something which has been created by the
people as a way of protecting rights and interests
- Associated w/freedom + individualism
Classical Modern
Classical liberals understood the need for a They support an enabling state.
state but felt it had to be kept to a minimum The state helps to protect individual
(‘nightwatchman’ state)/ machine created to freedoms by exercising a wider range of
serve the people not to control them social + economic responsibilities than a
minimal state
Locke: the state would act as a referee to
prevent a case of ‘state of nature - ‘Where laws Modern liberalism supports welfarism.
do not exist a man has no freedom’ Eg The Beveridge Report of 1942 reported that
much of the British population was held back
Negative freedom: Individuals should, be free by the ‘five giants’ inc poverty, squalor and
from govt interference ignorance
- The state just lays down the conditions - Modern liberals suggest that the govt
for an orderly existence but, as far as had a responsibility to remove these,
possible, does not get involved in as they were barriers to freedom
people’s lives
Positive freedom: It is not enough for
Wollstonecraft: Monarchial state should be individuals to be ‘left alone to ensure liberty
replaced by a republic state that enshrines - People should be able to achieve their
women's rights full potential free from inequality
- By denying women the right to vote, the
state was violating the idea of govt by Mill: Recognised inequality amongst the rich
consent and the poor + argued for some intervention
- ‘The more equality there is established among as inheritance tax wealth passed through
men the more virtue’ generations gave an unfair advantage
Egotistical individualism: ‘nanny state’ given to Developmental individualism: Express a
states that try to interfere with individual's degree of altruism(Concern for the
lives well-being of others) So each individual can
be fulfilled
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