Early Liberal John Locke - ()
Classical Feminist Liberal Mary Wollstonecraft - (1759-97)
Classical Liberal John Stuart Mill - (1806-73)
Modern Liberal John Rawls - ()
Social Modern Feminist Liberal Betty Friedan - ()
Early Liberal John Locke - (1632-1704)
Classical Feminist Liberal Mary Wollstonecraft - (1759-97)
Classical Liberal John Stuart Mill - (1806-73)
Modern Liberal John Rawls - (1921-2002)
Social Modern Feminist Liberal Betty Friedan - (1921-2006)
Individualism v Constructivism - State, Economy.
Classical liberals:
Liberty derives from limitations placed upon the state, allowing for the individual to be limited by
themselves and the laws of nature. Locke. a social theory favouring freedom of action for individuals
over collective or state control.
Modern liberals:
Rawls and Friedan aim to create new rights via an enabling state. It says that people construct their own
understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those
experiences.
Freedom - State, Society
Classical liberals - Negative liberty consists of the absence of obstacles, barriers or constraints. We
therefore possess negative liberty to the extent that actions are available to us. Locke.
Modern liberals - At a basic level, positive liberty consists of the right to do something. As such, it entails
the freedom to perform an action of some kind. Friedan and Rawls
The role of the State State, Society, Human Nature
Classical liberals - According to Mill, the laissez-faire economic system is consistent with liberal notions of
free exchange of labour and the importance of consumer choice. Equally, Mill warned that when
everyone expects the state to do things for them they naturally hold the state responsible for every
misfortune that befalls them. Social contract - By entering a social contract with the state, the individual
is seeking to protect their liberty from the actions of those that pose a threat to it. Far from representing
a loss of liberty, offering consent to the state strengthens the liberty of the individual.
Modern liberals - In short, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that everyone can experience
the maximisation of liberty. This can be maintained by Rawls's veil of ignorance. Behind this veil, you
know nothing of yourself and your natural abilities, or your position in society. ... Behind such a veil of
ignorance all individuals are simply specified as rational, free, and morally equal beings. Government
ensures, with the social contract, that everyone enjoys the maximum liberty possible without intruding
upon the freedom of others and that if there are any social or economic differences in the social
contract, they should help those who are the worst off. And, any advantages in the contract should be
available to everyone.
Social justice and equality Economy, State and Society.
Classical liberals - Nightwatchman state - Under the nightwatchman state, all of man is born equal. They
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