Flashcards
Liberalism key concepts
Flashcards do conjunto (46)
- 1FeudalismA system of agrarian-based production that is characterized by social hierarchies and a rigid pattern of obligations
- 2Divine rightThe doctrine that earthly rulers are chosen by God and thus wield unchallengeable authority; divine right is a defense of monarchical absolutism
- 3AbolutismA form of government in which political power is concentrated in the hands of a single individual or small group, in particular, an absolute monarchy
- 4Classical LiberalismA tradition within liberalism that seeks to maximize the realm of unconstrained individual action, typically by establishing a minimal state and a reliance on market economics
- 5Modern LiberalismA tradition within liberalism that provides a qualified endorsement for social and economic intervention as a means of promoting personal development
- 6(the) EnlightenmentAn intellectual movement that reached its heights in the eighteenth century and challenged traditional beliefs in religion, politics and learning in general in the name of reason and progress
- 7AtomismA belief that society is made up of a collection of self- interested and largely self-sufficient individuals, or atoms, rather than social groups
- 8Human natureThe essential and innate character of all human beings: what they owe to nature rather than to society
- 9Freedom/ libertyThe ability to think or act as one wishes, a capacity that can be associated with the individual, a social group or a nation
- 10Negative FreedomThe absence of external restrictions or constraints on the individual, allowing freedom of choice
- 11Positive freedomSelf-mastery or self-realization; the achievement of autonomy or the development of human capacities
- 12PaternalismAuthority exercised from above for the guidance and support of those below, modelled on the relationship between fathers and children
- 13JusticeA moral standard of fairness and impartiality; social justice is the notion of a fair or justifiable distribution of wealth and rewards in society
- 14EqualityThe principle that human beings are of identical worth or are entitled to be treated in the same way; equality can have widely differing applications
- 15MeritocracyLiterally, rule by those with merit, merit being intelligence plus effort; a society in which social position is determined exclusively by ability and hard work
- 16PluralismA belief in diversity or choice, or the theory that political power is or should be widely and evenly dispersed
- 17TolerationForbearance; a willingness to accept views or actions with which one is in disagreement
- 18AutonomyLiterally, self-government; the ability to control one's own destiny by virtue of enjoying independence from external influences
- 19LawEstablished and public rules of social conduct, backed up by the machinery of the state the police, courts and prisons
- 20GovernmentThe machinery through which collective decisions are made on behalf of the state, usually comprising a legislature, executive and judiciary
- 21StateAn association that establishes sovereign power within defined territorial area, usually possessing a monopoly of coercive power
- 22Social ContractA agreement among individuals through which they form a state in order to escape from the disorder and chaos of the state of nature
- 23State of natureA pre-political society characterized by unrestrained freedom and the absence of established authority
- 24DemocracyRule by the people; democracy implies both popular participation and government in the public interests, and can take a wide variety of forms
- 25Written ConstitutionA single authoritative document that defines the duties, powers and functions of government institutions and so constitutes 'higher' law.
- 26Bill of RightsA constitutional document that specifies the rights and freedoms of the individual and so defines the relationships between the state and its citizens
- 27Rule of lawThe principle that all conduct and behaviour, of private citizens and government officials, should conform to a framework of law
- 28Separation of powersThe principle that legislative, executive and judicial power should be separated through the construction of three independent branches of government
- 29FederalismA territorial distribution of power based on the sharing of sovereignty between central bodies and regional or provincial ones.
- 30Civil LibertyThe private sphere of existence, belonging to the citizen, not to the state; freedom from government
- 31Civil societyA realm of autonomous associations and groups, formed by private citizens and enjoying independence from the government; civil society includes businesses, clubs, families and so on.
- 32MajoritarianismA belief in majority rule; majoritarianism implies either that the majority dominates the minority, or the minority should defer to the judgement of the majority
- 33ConsentAssent or permission; in politics, usually an agreement to be governed or ruled
- 34ConsensusA broad agreement on fundamental principles that allows for disagreement on matters of emphasis or detail
- 35Natural RightsGod-given rights that are fundamental to human beings and are therefore inalienable (can't be taken away)
- 36UtilityUse- value; in economics, utility describes the satisfaction that is gained from the consumption of material goods and services
- 37MercantilismA school of economic thought that emphasizes the state's role in managing international trade and delivering prosperity
- 38MarketA system of commercial exchange between buyers and sellers, controlled by impersonal economic forces: 'market forces'
- 39Free marketThe principle or policy of unfettered market competition, free from government interference
- 40Laissez-faireLiterally. 'leave to do'; the doctrine that economic activity should be entirely free from government interference
- 41Market fundamentalismAn absolute faith in the market, reflecting the belief that the market mechanism offers solutions to all economic and social problems
- 42Individualityself- fulfillment achieved through the realization of an individual's distinctive or unique identity or qualities; what distinguishes one person from all others
- 43AltruismConcern for the interests and welfare of others, based either on enlightened self-interests or a belief in a common humanity
- 44Welfare StateA state that takes primary responsibility for the social welfare of its citizens, discharged through a range of social- security, health, education and other services
- 45Free tradeA system of trade between states not restricted by tariffs or other forms of protectionism
- 46Human developmentA standard of human well-being that reflects people's ability to lead fulfilled and creative lives, taking into account factors such as life expectancy, education, ecological sustainability and gender equality
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- Flashcards on Liberalism concepts
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