structure for all areas    |     expand these ideas

24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics

[founding ideas of liberal politics]

24 ideas
A lawful civil state must embody freedom, equality and independence for its members [Kant]
Prevention of harm to others is the only justification for exercising power over people [Mill]
The good is identified by the capacities of its participants [Green,TH, by Muirhead]
Liberals aim to allow individuals to realise their capacities [Dewey]
Liberal opinions are tentative rather than dogmatic, and are always responsive to new evidence [Russell]
Empiricist Liberalism is the only view for someone who favours scientific evidence and happiness [Russell]
Empiricism is ethically superior, because dogmatism favours persecution and hatred [Russell]
True democracy is the subordination of society to the individual [Weil]
In an organised society all actions have some effect on other people [Hart,HLA]
People endorse equality, universality and inclusiveness, just by their communicative practices [Habermas, by Finlayson]
Liberalism does not need a comprehensive account of value [Nussbaum]
In a liberal democracy all subjects of authority have a right to determine the authority [Kymlicka]
Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be their interests [Lukes]
Liberalism is minimal government, or individual rights, or equality [Avineri/De-Shalit]
Liberal basics are pluralism, freedom, rights, equality, and distributive justice - for autonomy [Kekes]
Liberals focus on universal human freedom, natural rights, and tolerance [Scruton, by PG]
Liberals say rights always come first, and justice is neutral on social values [Sandel]
Liberal theory starts from the governed, not from the governor [May]
Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality [Shorten]
Liberals value freedom and equality, but the society itself must decide on its values [Charvet]
The opposite of liberalism is dogmatism [Gopnik]
People are fallible, so liberalism tries to distribute power [Gopnik]
Liberals have tried very hard to build a conscience into their institutions [Gopnik]
Over several centuries a set of eight main liberal values was established [Dunt]