POL101Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: On Liberty, Limited Government
Grew out of struggle between parliament and the King
Declaration of Rights, Supremacy of Parliament over monarchy (William III and
Mary)
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Power does not come from God, but from the people
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Glorious Revolution 1688
Authority to rule is trust that can be removed
Second Treatise of Government 1690 (after the revolution)
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Law of land sovereign must rule within
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Rule of law
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Moral right of citizens to overthrow arbitrary government (not operating
under law)
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People create government based on an agreement between themselves
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'triumph of legal over traditional authority
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Reason government arises is because people choose it over a state of nature -
protection
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John Locke
All men are equal
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Government exists based on the consent of people
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Declaration of Independence, U.S.A.
Rights of man that cannot be harmed by government
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Declaration of Rights of Man 1789
Absence of coercion
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Rights to be left alone, do what you want without interference
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Protected until one's freedom violates the freedom of another - does not
injure another
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Power to do whatever does not injure others
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Ex: seatbelt law - overstepping according to liberalism
Only right for government is to prevent harm
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On Liberty - John Stuart Mill
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Threat is from interference
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Freedom is natural born, owned --> state can't interfere
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Freedom of speech, religion, private property, political opposition
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Negative rights
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Personal freedom
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Role of government is to prevent harm: protect political community from
external and protect individuals from each other
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Caretakers of society
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Liberalism wants to control and limit power
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Government constrained by rights of people
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Liberalism conception of freedom bound by private property
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Public / private sphere --> not everything is subject to the government
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Maximize individual freedom, limit government
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Wars were motivated by connection between religion and state -->
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Worries: concern of religious freedom
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Limited government
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Principles of Classical Liberalism
October 3, 2016
10:20 PM
LECTURES Page 8
Document Summary
Grew out of struggle between parliament and the king. Declaration of rights, supremacy of parliament over monarchy (william iii and. Power does not come from god, but from the people. Authority to rule is trust that can be removed. Second treatise of government 1690 (after the revolution) Moral right of citizens to overthrow arbitrary government (not operating under law) People create government based on an agreement between themselves. Reason government arises is because people choose it over a state of nature - protection. Government exists based on the consent of people. Rights of man that cannot be harmed by government. Rights to be left alone, do what you want without interference. Protected until one"s freedom violates the freedom of another - does not injure another. Power to do whatever does not injure others. Only right for government is to prevent harm. Ex: seatbelt law - overstepping according to liberalism. Freedom is natural born, owned --> state can"t interfere.
