Liberalism Mindmap

Liberalism Mindmap

1. Core Values

   • Individualism
     • A belief in the importance of an individual over any social group
       • Developed as feudalism broke down
         • Key thinkers include: John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith and Herbert Spencer
   • Liberty
     • A relationship free from oppression or coercion with the absence of disabling conditions and the fulfilment or enabling conditions
       • connected with concepts of civil liberty and human rights
         • Includes thinkers such as MacIntyre, Kompridis and Berlin
   • Reason
     • Basing opinions/actions on reason and knowledge rather than religious belief or emotional response
       • central theme to the enlightenment era
         • brought us into the 'age of reason'
           • Thinkers include: Thomas Paine, Voltaire, John Locke
   • Justice
     • A moral standard of fairness and impartiality where everyone has equal worth
       • includes distribution of wealth and taxation (social justice)
         • Key thinkers include: Ronald Dwarkin, Akerman and Rawls
   • Toleration
     • An assurance of autonomy that's necessary for delf-developemnt and progress of the human race
       • Protects minority groups
       • ' I detest what you say but I will defend to my death your right to say it'
         • Key thinker: Voltaire

2. The Liberal State

   • Classical Ideas
     • State should be severly limited
       • Should act as a 'night-watchmen' state, purely as protection rather than control
       • The state should be an umpire/neutral referee over society
         • Laissez-faire economic policies
     • Freedom can only exist under the law as where there is no law there is no freedom
     • State created by individuals for individuals
       • Should embody the interests of all its citizens
       • Citizens therefore are not obligated to follow rules they do not agree with and have a right to rebellion
     • Social Contracts
       • Individuals give up a portion of their liberty in order to set up a system of law
   • Modern Ideas
     • More regulation of the economy to benefit the many
       • Increase aggregate demand through spending or taxation
         • regulation was necessary as capitalist economies became more complex
     • Ideas about a welfare state
       • Created more equal life opportunities
         • connections to positive freedom 'freedom to'
         • Attacking the 'five giants'
     • still limited
     • More focus on education for the masses and healthcare
       • NHS and State education

3. Classical Liberalism

   • Egoistical individualism
     • emphasises self-interest and self-reliance
       • negative view of the state
     • individuals are driven by their own needs
   • Atomisic society
     • individuals are separate and distinct atoms
       • Society should be organised for the benefit of these individuals
   • Negative freedom
     • 'Freedom from' external constraint upon an individual so that they act in a way they desire
       • rolling back of the state
       • e.g freedom of speech, movement, taxation
     • idea expanded by Isaiah Berlin
   • Utilitarianism
     • developed by Jeremy Bentham
       • value and pleasure in protection
         • promotes individualism and rationalism
           • 'The greatest good for the greatest number'

4. Modern Liberalism

   • Self-realisation
     • individuals obtain freedom through beneficial social conditions
       • Individuals are able to achieve their own aspirations
         • A more humane society filled with toleration
   • welfare liberlism
     • emergence of a welfare state to create a more equal society
       • developed by Rawls and Bentham
       • this gave people equality of opportunity for human flourishing and self-fulfilment
       • relieved people from the 'five giants'
         • Want, squalor, ignorance, disease and idleness
           • Led to the NHS, education system, state housing
             • implies state intervention
   • Positive freedom
     • 'Freedom to'
       • Freedom of autonomy, implying personal development, self-realisation and self-fulfilment
         • people must be guided to reach their potential
         • includes a right to education, healthcare and minimum wage to provide maximum freedom and equality
           • could be used as a force of oppression?