mouldable - we improve through cooperation but capitalism may have corrupted us
social - we are best understood in the context of society, and naturally cooperate
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Liberty
prioritise positive liberty, a method of enabling the proletariat to better themselves
liberty is unequally distributed - those with more resources have more liberty - justifies redistribution
Marx - freedom is an illusion, workers are not free to not sell their labour, subject to economic forces beyond their control, e.g unemployment, price of wages
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Equality
ensures justice - fair treatment by society
fundamental value, support equality in all forms
allows personal fulfilment - people's basic needs are satisfied. creating positive liberty
promotes cooperation and social bonds, inequality promotes competition and conflict
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Collectivism
Collective action is morally better and more practical than individualism because it follows from our human nature - social beings
fraternity and equality leads to collectivism, and visa versa
the state can facilitate collectivism through collectivisation, wealth redistribution, welfarism and economic management - Marxists disagree, state is a tool of capitalism, and thus must be overthrown
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Common Ownership
the process through which collectivism can be achieved
restricts the inequality private property leads to - moderate socialists reject common ownership as a principle, preferring a mixed economy
property and wealth is produced collectively, so should be owned as such
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Class Conflict
we share common interests and purpose with our class - class consciousness - these interests conflict with those of other classes - the conflict here is the exploitation for profit of the workers by the capitalists - Marx: two classes, those who own property and those who sell their labour to survive
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Social Justice
key aim of socialism - ensuring everyone is treated fairly by society and receives the resources necessary for life
all socialists believe the outcomes of a free market are not entirely fair - something must be done to ensure the rewards an economy generates are shared more equally
Marx: true social justice will come with Communism - redistribution is incompatible with capitalism
moderates: capitalism can be tamed and harnesses to achieve social justice, redistribution can spread the wealth capitalism creates, since inequality is a defining feature of capitalism, it must be decided how much is acceptable, a minimum living standard for all is sought, through, for example, minimum wage laws
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