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Single Idea 21117

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics ]

Full Idea

The liberal theory of political community contains a moral thesis which says that members should share a moral concern for one another as free and equal citizens. …Citizens are not required to have much else in common with one another.

Gist of Idea

Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality

Source

Andrew Shorten (Contemporary Political Theory [2016], 02)

Book Ref

Shorten,Andrew: 'Contemporary Political Theory' [Palgrave 2016], p.19


A Reaction

A key thought. Liberal hearts swell with pride at the first half, but anti-liberals are interested in the second bit. If my neighbour lives in miserable poverty, should I only ask whether they are 'equal and free'? Respect everything!


The 17 ideas from Andrew Shorten

Liberalism should not make assumptions such as the value of choosing your own life plan [Shorten]
Liberals treat individuals as mutual strangers, rather than as social beings [Shorten]
Liberal equality concerns rights, and liberal freedom concerns choice of ends [Shorten]
Liberal Nationalism encourages the promotion of nationalistic values [Shorten]
Liberal Nationalism is more communitarian, and Constitutional Patriotism more cosmopolitan [Shorten]
Liberal Nationalism says welfare states and democracy needed a shared sense of nationality [Shorten]
Constitutional Patriotism unites around political values (rather than national identity) [Shorten]
Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality [Shorten]
Religious toleration has been institutionalised by the separation of church and state [Shorten]
Representative should be either obedient, or sensible, or typical [Shorten]
There is 'mirror representation' when the institution statistically reflects the population [Shorten]
In a changed situation a Mandated Representative can't keep promises and fight for constituents [Shorten]
Democracy is a method of selection, or it involves participation, or it concerns public discussion [Shorten]
Some say democracy is intrinsically valuable, others that it delivers good outcomes [Shorten]
Maybe the rational autonomous liberal individual is merely the result of domination [Shorten]
There are eight different ways in which groups of people can be oppressed [Shorten, by PG]
Utilitarians conflate acts and omissions; causing to drown and failing to save are the same [Shorten]