Liberal Thinkers & Their Ideas (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

John Locke's ideas underpin both classical liberalism and modern democratic constitutional systems

He argued that all individuals possess natural rights, including the rights to life, liberty and property, simply because they are rational human beings

• He believed these rights existed before government and must therefore be protected rather than granted by the state

Locke developed the idea of a social contract, in which government authority is legitimate only if it is based on the consent of the governed

Citizens give consent in exchange for the protection of their natural rights, and they retain the right to withdraw this consent and overthrow the government if it fails in this duty

Locke also supported limited government

• He insisted that power must be divided through a separation of powers to prevent tyranny

He argued that the rule of law is essential to ensure that even rulers are subject to legal constraints

Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women are rational individuals and therefore entitled to the same natural rights as men

• True liberty requires gender equality, and that women should have equal access to education, employment and political participation to allow them to develop their abilities and fulfil their potential

Wollstonecraft criticised social norms and patriarchal structures that confined women to domestic roles and denied them intellectual and economic independence

Mary argued that both legal and social reforms were needed to remove barriers preventing women’s full participation in society

Her work laid the foundations for modern feminist liberalism and strongly reinforced liberal principles of formal equality, rationalism and individual freedom

John Stuart Mill is best known for the harm principle

• This states that individuals should be free to act however they choose unless their actions cause harm to others

Mill therefore defended individual liberty, arguing that personal freedom is essential for human progress and self-development

He believed that allowing individuals to experiment with different ways of living creates a more dynamic and successful society

Mill also strongly supported tolerance and freedom of expression, claiming that open debate is necessary for rational decision-making

• Even unpopular or controversial opinions should be protected, as they help challenge assumptions and refine truth through discussion

Mill’s ideas bridge classical and modern liberalism, inspiring both negative liberty and early arguments for gender equality.

John Rawls developed a modern interpretation of liberalism through his influential theory of justice

He argued that a just society must guarantee equal basic liberties for all citizens

• He called this the greatest equal liberty principle

Rawls also proposed the difference principle

• Social and economic inequalities are only acceptable if they benefit the most disadvantaged members of society

Rawls used the veil of ignorance as a thought experiment to demonstrate fairness

• He argued that if individuals designed a political system without knowing their future position in society, they would choose one that distributes rights and opportunities equally

Rawls believed that rational people would support limited redistribution and welfare measures to ensure equality of opportunity, making his work central to modern liberalism

Betty Friedan argued that women needed freedom from the social constraints created by patriarchal expectations

• These social constraints confined them to domestic roles and limited their personal development

She believed many women experienced what she called the problem that has no name

• By this she meant a deep dissatisfaction caused by society’s assumption that their fulfilment should come solely from marriage and childcare

Friedan argued that genuine freedom for women requires both formal legal equality and state-supported opportunities

• This includes access to childcare, education and equal employment rights

She believed that the state should help remove structural barriers preventing women from achieving autonomy and economic independence

Her work helped shape modern liberal arguments for positive liberty, social justice and an enabling state