POLS 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Speedstep, Contract, Liberal Democracy
20 Jul 2016
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Overlap in sense of equality, but freedom causes conflict. Can threaten individual liberty: tyranny of the majority, suppress individual initiative, and eliminate the space for experiments in ways of life. Political theory and ideology that emphasizes the primacy of the individual and individual freedom. Commited to the freedom of individuals to do as they wish without the interference of other and protecting these values as rights (as long as they don"t harm others) Likewise, believe in limited state where power of gov is restrained by such device as constitutions. Emphasis on the protection of the individual from the effects of public power. Aim to preserve individual rights and to maximize freedom of choice. *liberal democracies less concerned with freedoms of inidvidals but moreso with economic freedom. Key points: not everyone can be completely free when equal, tyranny of the majority. Democracy may undermine and even destroy liberty. Liberty is enhanced by democracy but it must be protected from democracy.
