Political Science 1020E Lecture 1: Lecture notes- Liberalism 1 – Nov 3
12 Feb 2019
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But liberals disagree about the nature of liberty what it means, what makes it valuable. Summary of liberalism: key feature of liberal states are ideas. Freedom of the press, separate from the state. Abolition of servile social statue i. e. abolition of hierarchies among people. No religious dogma can reasonably be held with certainty i. e. reasonable people can disagree. Every doctrine should be open to critical scrutiny: nothing is sacred. Fundamental equality of all human beings; inequality is an artifact: not part of the natural order; real, but created by humans and societies, should be challenged. Rational, moderately self-interested: what people are kind of like. Individuals should be free from legal barriers, customs, and traditions, to be able to live how they choose. Challenging ascribed status: movement up and down the social ladder. Radical priest and rivalry for power between nobles and the church. Against priestly authority: authority comes from all of us, rejection of church hierarchy.
