A slideshow prepared for a series of lectures on Liberalism for PS 240 Introduction to Political Theory at the University of Kentucky, Fall 2007. Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Lecturer.
60. The Liberal View of Freedom (Ball and Dagger, “Liberalism”) OBSTACLE: Laws, customs, or conditions that block individual choice (or pursuit of “the good”) AGENT: The “Atomistic” Individual GOAL: To live as one chooses, pursue one’s own idea of “the good.”
70. Harm Principle Every sane adult should be free to do whatever he or she wants as long as his or her actions do not harm, or threaten to harm, others.
87. Option #1: Money can be divided up such that 20% of us will get 82.7% of the income and property, 20% will get 11.7% of income and property, 20% will get 2.3% of income, 20% will get 1.9%, and the last 20% will get 1.4%.
88. Option #2: Divide it up such that everyone gets an equal share of the wealth and property, regardless of job or status. (Each group will get 20% of income, divided equally).
92. The Original Position Non-presocial liberal ideas that, if consensually held, would lead everyone to accept the equal liberty and difference principles as the basis for mutually beneficial social cooperation.
99. Equal Liberty Principle The state must provide the most extensive system of equal liberties that is feasible and desirable. All individuals must enjoy the greatest degree of liberty consistent with the enjoyment of like liberty by everyone else.
100. Difference Principle Primary social goods are to be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution would improve the welfare of the least well-off in society.
135. “ The triumph of the West, of the Western idea, is evident first of all in the total exhaustion of viable systematic alternatives to Western liberalism.” Francis Fukuyama, The End of History
136. the distinctiveness of liberalism consists in its being the dominant ideology rather than un-ideological