Feminism free essay sample

A commitment to the individual and the desire to construct a society where people can satisfy their interests and achieve fulfilment. Summary * The term ‘Liberal’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Liber’, which refers to a class of free men, in other words, men who were neither serfs nor slaves. * It is associated with ideas of freedom and choice. * Human beings are first and foremost, individuals, endowed with reason. * This implies that each individual should enjoy the maximum possible freedom consistent with a like freedom for all. Although entitled to equal rights and political rights, they should be rewarded in line with their talents and their willingness to work. * Liberal societies are organised around the twin principles: Constitutionalism and consent. It is designed to protect citizens from government tyranny. Classical liberalism: characterised by a belief in ‘minimal state’ function is to be limited to the maintenance of domestic order and personal security. We will write a custom essay sample on Feminism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page * Modern liberalism: accept that states should help people to help themselves. Core Values: 1. The individual = Unique and Equal. Feudalism was displaced by increasingly market-orientated societies . * Individuals were encouraged individuals to think for themselves and to think of themselves in personal terms. * A serf was now a ‘free man’ and acquired some ability to choose who to work for and maybe the opportunity to leave the land altogether and look for work in the growing towns or cities. * Rational and scientific explanations gradually displaced traditional religious theories. * Society was understood from the view point of the human individuals. * However, emphasizing the importance of individual has two contrasting implications: ) Individuals are primarily defined by inner qualities and attributes specific to themselves. They nevertheless each share the same status in that they are all first and foremost, individuals. Individuals were thought to posses personal and distinctive qualities: each was of special value. * Immanuel Kant expressed a belief in the dignity and equal worth of human beings. * Belief in the primacy of the individual is the characteristic theme of liberal ideology. * It lead some liberals to views society as simply a collection of individuals, each seeking to satisfy his or her own needs and interests. A belief that ‘society’ itself does not exist but is merely a collection of self-sufficient individuals. * Such extreme individualism is based on the assumption that the individual is egoistical, essentially self-seeking and largely self-reliant. * Macpherson (1973) – characterized early liberalism as ‘possessive individualism’ in that it regarded the individual as ‘the proprietor of his own person or capacities, owing nothing to society for them’. Modern Liberals: more optimistic view of human nature: have been more prepared to believe that egoism is tempered by a sense of social responsibility especially a responsibility for those who are unable to look after themselves. * All liberals are united in their desire to create a society in which each person is capable of developing and flourishing to the fullness of his or her potential. 2. Freedom = Individual liberty the supreme political value and the unifying principle within liberal ide ology. * Classical liberals: liberty was a natural right and an essential requirement for leading a truly human existence. It gave individuals the opportunity to pursue their own interests by exercising: the choice of where to live, who to work for and what to buy etc. Modern Liberals: Liberty as the only condition in which people are able to develop their skills and talents and fulfil their potential. Belief in the supreme importance of the individual leads naturally to a commitment to individual freedom. * Liberals do not accept that individuals have an absolute entitlement to freedom. * If liberty is unlimited it can become ‘licence’, the right to abuse others. John Stuart MILL: the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will is to prevent harm to others. Therefore, he accepts only the most minimal restrictions on individual freedom and then only in order to prevent ‘harm to others’. * He described action as ‘Self-regarding’: individuals exercise absolute freedom. Other-regarding: restrict the freedom of others or them damage. * MILL does NOT accept any restrictions on the individual that are designed to prevent a person from damaging him or herself physically or morally. Although the individual may be sovereign over his or her body and mind, each must respect the fact that every other individual enjoys an equal right to liberty. * RAWLS: Everyone is entitled to the widest possible liberty consistent with a like liberty for all. * Liberals agree about the value of liberty. Not always agreed about what it means for an individual to be ‘free’. Berlin: NEGATIVE freedom and POSITIVE freedom. * Classical Liberals: Negative Freedom: Freedom consists in each person being left alone, free from interferen ce and able to act in whatever way they may choose. This explains the Liberal emphasis on education. People can better or improve themselves through the acquisition of knowledge and the abandonment of prejudice and superstition. * Modern Liberals: Education is thus a good in itself. It is a vital mean of promoting person self development and achieving historical and social advancement. * Reason is significant in highlighting the importance of discussion, debate and argument. * * Individuals batter for scarce resources. * Businesses compete to increase profits. * Nations struggle for security While liberals are generally optimistic about human nature, they hardly ever subscribe to the ideal doctrine of human perfectibility because the recognized the power of self-interest and egoism. The inevitable result of this would be Rivalry and conflict. The liberal preference is clearly that such conflicts be settled through debate and negotiation. * Advantage of reason: it provides a basis on which rival claims and demands can be evaluated. It highlights the cost of not resolving disputes peacefully namely, violence, bloodshed and death. * Liberals therefore deplore (criticize) the use of force and aggression.