SDS131R Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Comparative Advantage, Xenophobia, Nepotism

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Social Development Studies
• Course: SDS131R
• Professor: Theresa Romkey

Document Summary

The rise of liberalism was a result of three things: scientific revolution, reformation and. Collectively throughout the 16th and 17th century these events saw people challenging the norms of their society and taking control of the way they were being governed. Classic liberalism stems from liberty, in essence being able to make decisions without restriction from higher governing powers. Equality plays a big role in classical liberalism as it falls under a very optimistic view of human nature and says people need equality of opportunity. Classically liberalists called for a movement away from ascribed status to achieved status where people could work their way up the social hierarchy. Three main theorists: hobbes, locke and rousseau all start off with the idea of a social contract (giving up something to the state for protection) and move forward into questioning why people chose to create the state. Thomas hobbes was not a classical liberalist but contributed to classical liberalism as understood today.