16671815
| Question | Answer |
| Mechanistic theory | This is linked to the ideas of John Locke and argues that mankind is rational and therefore capable of devising a state that reflects mankind’s needs. It was a pointed rebuff to notions like ‘divine right of Kings’, which argued that the state reflected God’s will and that obedience to the state was a religious duty |
| Egotistical individualism | Linked to early classical liberalism, this denotes a belief that human beings are naturally drawn to the advancement of their own, selfish interests and the pursuit of their own happiness. Its proponents, citing mankind’s concurrent rationalism, deny this leads to conflict or gross insensitivity |
| Economic liberalism | Economic system that emerged in Europe in the late 17th century. It involves private property, which early liberals such as Locke saw as a ‘natural right’. It involves private property, which early liberals such as Locke saw as a ‘natural right’. It is thought to benefit all – thus revealing liberalism’s eternal optimism and belief in progress |
| State of nature | A philosophical device used by Hobbes and Locke to justify the very different types of political state that they were proposing. It referred to what life might have been like before laws, formal rules and governments came into being |
| Social contract | Linked to Enlightenment philosophers such as Locke and Rousseau, this denotes that the state should be a ‘deal’ between governments and governed. It states that in return for submitting to the state’s laws, the governed should be guaranteed certain rights and that, if these rights are violated, so is the citizen’s obligation to obey the state’s laws |
| Tolerance/harm principle | These twin terms refer to the belief that particular views and activities – particularly those we might frown upon – should be tolerated, just as long as they do not ‘harm’ the freedom of others. Both concepts are strongly linked to the liberal belief in individual freedom |
| Foundational / legal equality | This is the belief that every individual is born equal, with equal natural rights. Such individuals are therefore entitled to legal equality in a liberal state. This would involve equality before the law and an equal recognition of individual rights |
| Equality of opportunity | Liberals believe that all individuals should be allowed similar opportunities to develop their potential. Unlike socialists, equality of opportunity for liberals does not necessarily exist alongside greater equality of outcome |
| Meritocracy | A society organised on the basis that success is based on ability and hard work |
| Limited government | The government is ‘limited’ in terms of how it can act, by a constitution’s formal rules and procedures. It is therefore the opposite of arbitrary rule, as practised in medieval, monarchical states |
| Laissez-faire capitalism | This is based on the liberal belief in private property, and the classical liberal belief in ‘negative liberty’, this is an economic system which allows private enterprise and capitalism to operate with little or no interference from the state |
| Negative liberty | This is the notion of freedom that involves individuals being left alone to pursue their destiny. Any attempt to interfere with individual actions may therefore be judged an infringement of liberty |
| Minimal state | A feature of classical liberalism, the minimal state was one that reflected the concept of negative liberty by minimising state activities (legislating and taxing as infrequently as possible) while confining its range to areas such as defence and the protection of private property |
| Developmental individualism | Closely connected to the ideas of J. S. Mill who wished to focus on what individuals could become rather than what they had become. It explained Mill’s strong emphasis upon the value of formal education within a liberal society |
| Positive freedom | This denotes the belief that individuals left alone are often inhibited rather than ‘free’. Such individuals may need enabling so that they are free to exercise their individual talents |
| Enabling state | This is a state that extended its activities so as to ‘liberate’ individuals from restrictive social and economic problems, thus ‘enabling’ them to fulfil their potential |
| Keynesianism | An economic system that requires government involvement to stimulate the economy to achieve full employment and price stability |
| Social liberalism | This updates the historic liberal belief in tolerance. It involves legislation that may criminalise actions that discriminate against individuals on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability and religious persuasion |
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