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Single Idea 18652
[filed under theme 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
]
Full Idea
The Lockean camp defines freedom in terms of the exercise of our rights. Whether or not a restriction decreases our freedom depends on whether or not we had a right to do the restricted thing.
Gist of Idea
The Lockean view of freedom depends on whether you had a right to what is restricted
Source
Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 2.4.a.iii)
Book Ref
Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.138
A Reaction
My first instinct is to be sympathetic to this, since a detached and general notion of 'freedom' strikes me as suspect. He offers the rival 'Spenserian' view of freedom as just having the choice.
The
61 ideas
from Will Kymlicka
23413
|
Feminism has shown that social roles are far from fixed (as communitarians tend to see them)
[Kymlicka]
|
23410
|
Modern liberals see a community as simply a society which respects freedom and equality
[Kymlicka]
|
23409
|
Community can focus on class or citizenship or ethnicity or culture
[Kymlicka]
|
23411
|
Communitarians see justice as primarily a community matter, rather than a principle
[Kymlicka]
|
23419
|
Communitarianism struggles with excluded marginalised groups
[Kymlicka]
|
23418
|
Liberal state legitimacy is based on a belief in justice, not in some conception of the good life
[Kymlicka]
|
23412
|
Justice resolves conflicts, but may also provoke them
[Kymlicka]
|
23415
|
Participation aids the quest for the good life, but why should that be a state activity?
[Kymlicka]
|
23414
|
Liberals say state intervention in culture restricts people's autonomy
[Kymlicka]
|
18623
|
The quest of the general good is partly undermined by people's past entitlements
[Kymlicka]
|
18624
|
Utilitarianism is not a decision-procedure; choice of the best procedure is an open question
[Kymlicka]
|
18626
|
One view says start with equality, and infer equal weight to interests, and hence maximum utility
[Kymlicka]
|
18650
|
Teleological theories give the good priority over concern for people
[Kymlicka]
|
18651
|
The most valuable liberties to us need not be the ones with the most freedom
[Kymlicka]
|
18652
|
The Lockean view of freedom depends on whether you had a right to what is restricted
[Kymlicka]
|
18627
|
A second view says start with maximising the good, implying aggregation, and hence equality
[Kymlicka]
|
18625
|
To maximise utility should we double the population, even if life somewhat deteriorates?
[Kymlicka]
|
18628
|
We shouldn't endorse preferences which reject equality, and show prejudice and selfishness
[Kymlicka]
|
18630
|
Utilitarianism is no longer a distinctive political position
[Kymlicka]
|
18629
|
Using utilitarian principles to make decisions encourages cold detachment from people
[Kymlicka]
|
18632
|
Liberalism tends to give priority to basic liberties
[Kymlicka]
|
18633
|
Equal opportunities seems fair, because your fate is from your choices, not your circumstances
[Kymlicka]
|
18634
|
Equal opportunity arbitrarily worries about social circumstances, but ignores talents
[Kymlicka]
|
18637
|
Utilitarianism is irrational if it tells you to trade in your rights and resources just for benefits
[Kymlicka]
|
18635
|
Social contract theories are usually rejected because there never was such a contract
[Kymlicka]
|
18638
|
The difference principles says we must subsidise the costs of other people's choices
[Kymlicka]
|
18640
|
Libertarians like the free market, but they also think that the free market is just
[Kymlicka]
|
18649
|
If everyone owned himself, that would prevent slavery
[Kymlicka]
|
18654
|
Marxists say justice is unneeded in the truly good community
[Kymlicka]
|
18655
|
Justice corrects social faults, but also expresses respect to individuals as ends
[Kymlicka]
|
18656
|
Marxists say liberalism is unjust, because it allows exploitation in the sale of labour
[Kymlicka]
|
18657
|
Communitarian states only encourage fairly orthodox ideas of the good life
[Kymlicka]
|
18659
|
The 'Kantian' view of the self misses the way it is embedded or situated in society
[Kymlicka]
|
18658
|
The 'Kantian' self steps back from commitment to its social situation
[Kymlicka]
|
18660
|
Communitarians say we should pay more attention to our history
[Kymlicka]
|
18661
|
Ancient freedom was free participation in politics, not private independence of life
[Kymlicka]
|
18663
|
Modern liberalism has added personal privacy to our personal social lives
[Kymlicka]
|
18664
|
Maybe the particularist moral thought of women is better than the impartial public thinking of men
[Kymlicka]
|
23369
|
Some liberals thinks checks and balances are enough, without virtuous citizens
[Kymlicka]
|
23370
|
Good citizens need civic virtues of loyalty, independence, diligence, respect, etc.
[Kymlicka]
|
23373
|
Liberals accept that people need society, but Aristotelians must show that they need political activity
[Kymlicka]
|
23375
|
Minimal liberal citizenship needs common civility, as well as mere non-interference
[Kymlicka]
|
23376
|
Modern non-discrimination obliges modern citizens to treat each other as equals
[Kymlicka]
|
23377
|
The right wing sees citizenship in terms of responsibility to earn a living, rather than rights
[Kymlicka]
|
23374
|
We have become attached to private life because that has become greatly enriched
[Kymlicka]
|
23371
|
Modern democratic theory focuses on talk, not votes, because we need consensus or compromise
[Kymlicka]
|
23380
|
Some individuals can gain citizenship as part of a group, rather than as mere individuals
[Kymlicka]
|
23381
|
The status hierarchy is independent of the economic hierarchy
[Kymlicka]
|
23379
|
Rights are a part of nation-building, to build a common national identity and culture
[Kymlicka]
|
23382
|
Rights derived from group membership are opposed to the idea of state citizenship
[Kymlicka]
|
23378
|
The welfare state helps to integrate the working classes into a national culture
[Kymlicka]
|
23383
|
Some multiculturalists defended the rights of cohesive minorities against liberal individualism
[Kymlicka]
|
23384
|
'Culturalist' liberals say that even liberal individuals may need minority rights
[Kymlicka]
|
23385
|
Multiculturalism may entail men dominating women in minority groups
[Kymlicka]
|
23386
|
Liberals must prefer minority right which are freedoms, not restrictions
[Kymlicka]
|
23387
|
Liberals must avoid an official culture, as well as an official religion
[Kymlicka]
|
23388
|
Liberals need more than freedom; they must build a nation, through a language and institutions
[Kymlicka]
|
23389
|
Why shouldn't national minorities have their own right to nation-build?
[Kymlicka]
|
23390
|
In a liberal democracy all subjects of authority have a right to determine the authority
[Kymlicka]
|
23391
|
Multiculturalism is liberal if it challenges inequality, conservative if it emphasises common good
[Kymlicka]
|
22818
|
Liberals are not too individualistic, because people recognise and value social relations
[Kymlicka]
|