Ideas of John Charvet, by Theme

[British, fl. 2019, Professor at London School of Economics.]

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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / a. Original position
Rawls's theory cannot justify liberalism, since it presupposes free and equal participants
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / b. Veil of ignorance
People with strong prior beliefs would have nothing to do with a veil of ignorance
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 3. Conservatism
Societies need shared values, so conservatism is right if rational discussion of values is impossible
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 4. Social Utilitarianism
The universalism of utilitarianism implies a world state
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics
Liberals value freedom and equality, but the society itself must decide on its values
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / b. Liberal individualism
Modern libertarian societies still provide education and some housing
Liberalism needs people to either have equal autonomy, or everyone to have enough autonomy
Kant places a higher value on the universal rational will than on the people asserting it
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / c. Liberal equality
Liberalism asserts maximum freedom, but that must be equal for all participants
Egalitarian liberals prefer equality (either of input or outcome) to liberty
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / e. Liberal community
Liberals promote community and well-being - because all good societies need them
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / f. Multiculturalism
Identity multiculturalism emerges from communitarianism, preferring community to humanity
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / b. Against communitarianism
For communitarians it seems that you must accept the culture you are born into
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 9. Communism
Give by ability and receive by need, rather than a free labour market
25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 3. Free speech
Allowing defamatory speech is against society's interests, by blurring which people are trustworthy
25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 5. Freedom of lifestyle
'Freedom from' is an empty idea, if the freedom is not from impediments to my desires
Positive freedom can lead to coercion, if you are forced to do what you chose to do
First level autonomy is application of personal values; second level is criticising them
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
Mere equality, as in two trees being the same height, has no value at all
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality
Inequalities are worse if they seem to be your fault, rather than social facts
Money allows unlimited inequalities, and we obviously all agree to money
25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / b. Rule of law
The 1689 Bill of Rights denied the monarch new courts, or the right to sit as judge
From 1701 only parliament could remove judges, whose decisions could not be discussed
Justice superior to the rule of law is claimed on behalf of the workers, or the will of the nation
The rule of law mainly benefits those with property and liberties
The rule of law is mainly to restrict governments
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 3. Welfare provision
Welfare is needed if citizens are to accept the obligations of a liberal state