A belief in the primacy of the rights and interests of the individual over any group, society or state.
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Freedom
The ability to think or act as one wishes.
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Rationalism
The belief that knowledge flows from reason and logic rather than from tradition, custom or faith.
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Justice
A moral standard of fairness and impartiality. Social justice is the notion of a fair or justifiable distribution of wealth and rewards in society.
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Political equality
There should be electoral systems based upon one person, one vote, one value.
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Equality
Humans are of equal worth, should be treated the same way and should receive fair and equitable rewards.
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Liberal democracy
A form of representative government based on free, fair and competitive elections, pluralism, constitutionalism, the rule of law, civil liberties and a (free- or mixed-) market economy.
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Constitutionalism
The belief that government should operate within a constitution- a set of rules which set clear and enforceable limits to its powers
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Consent
The agreement of the people to be governed, granting legitimate authority to the governors.
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Mechanistic Model of state and society
The belief that the state is like an artificial machine, crated by individuals to serve and protect the freedoms of the individuals within it. These individuals are of equal importance and are effectively interchangeable.
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Thomas Paine
the state is a "necessary evil" But govt is necessary because it protects self serving individuals from one another. It is evil because it embodies state power which can be coercive and oppressive.
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Lord Acton
"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely"
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Implications of rationalism
Individual freedom, representative democracy, tolerance and international peace & harmony
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Voltaire
"I detest what you say but I shall defend to the death, your right to say it"
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