Liberty

The term liberty is derived from the Latin word liber, meaning “free.” It emphasizes the absence of interference from society and the state in an individual’s life.

Liberty lies at the core of liberalism, whose central slogan is “freedom from authority,” particularly freedom from the state or government.

Different philosophers have defined liberty in varying ways:

1. Thomas Hobbes: Liberty is the absence of external impediments.

2. Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Liberty is obedience to the general will.

3. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Liberty is obedience to the law.

4. Robert Nozick: Liberty is the absence of coercion by the state, society, or fellow individuals.

In summary, liberty can be defined as independence from unnecessary restrictions while adhering to laws that enable a harmonious society.

Two Concepts of Liberty

Isaiah Berlin, in his essay Two Concepts of Liberty, distinguished between negative liberty and positive liberty:

1. Negative Liberty

Negative liberty refers to freedom from external interference. It emphasizes the absence of barriers or restrictions imposed by others, including the state. Its purpose is to preserve individual autonomy.

Key features of Negative Liberty:

1. Freedom from arbitrary authority: This includes rights like freedom of speech and protection from tyranny.

2. Autonomy in personal decisions: Humans, as rational beings, know their best interests, making unnecessary interference from the state unwarranted.

3. Development of personality: Liberty is essential for the growth of individual potential and self-expression.

4. Free Economy: Laissez faire market.

Spheres of Negative Liberty:

Political Sphere: John Locke advocated for a limited government that acts as a “night-watchman,” maintaining law and order but refraining from arbitrary authority.

Economic Sphere: Milton Fried man, in his book Capitalism and Freedom, championed a laissez-faire economy and the free market, arguing for minimal state interference in economic matters.

Personal Sphere: J.S. Mill, in his book On Liberty, asserted that individuals should have absolute freedom in self-regarding actions (actions affecting only themselves, such as choosing religion or profession). However, in other-regarding actions (actions impacting others), the state has the right to intervene to protect others’ liberty.

2. Positive Liberty

Positive liberty refers to the ability to control one’s own life, realize one’s potential, and achieve self-mastery. It is about being free to do something meaningful rather than merely being free from interference.

Key Features of Positive Liberty:

1. Role of the State: Positive liberty emerged during the rise of welfare states in the post-World War era. Citizens began to demand that the state actively ensure opportunities for personal growth and well-being (e.g., education, healthcare, and economic support).

2. Human Nature: Positive liberty assumes that humans have a higher self (rational and moral) and a lower self (irrational desires). The state should help individuals nurture their higher selves.

Supporters of Positive Liberty:

T.H. Green: Regarded as the founder of positive liberty, he argued that “freedom is not the absence of restraint but the power to do and enjoy something worth doing.”

H.J. Laski: In his book A Grammar of Politics, he defined liberty as “the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men have the opportunity to be their best selves.”

C.B. Macpherson: In Democratic Theory, he viewed positive liberty as “man’s power for development,” emphasizing the use and enhancement of human capacities.