Liberty

In this unit we will learn

• Introduction
• Difference b/w Liberty and freedom
• Real meaning and nature of Liberty
• Meaning of Liberty (Negative/Positive)
• Kind of Liberty
• Relationship between Liberty and Equality
• Relationship between Liberty and Democracy
• Liberty: Modern technological society
Introduction
• The theme of rights is integrally connected with the theme of liberty.
• It is the provision of rights with their due enforcement by the state that ensures freedom to a citizen and thereby
enables him to seek the best possible development of his personality.
• The purpose of the state is not confined to the maintenance of law and order, or the protection of the weak against
the strong; it is also concerned with the creation and preservation of that atmosphere in which an individual has
the opportunity to sharpen his constructive initiative.
• 'Liberty' and 'Freedom' are terms, which are generally used interchangeably: The idea of freedom presupposes
absence of restraints.
• Freedom of choice and will implies a kind of freedom.
• It is the freedom to select one possibility among others.
• Generally, we talk of freedom of will in the moral realm.
• When we use the term freedom in the social or political context, it means the freedom to carry out what one has
• chosen to do.
Difference between Liberty & Freedo
1. Freedom:
• Freedom means not being controlled or restrained by others or external forces.
• It's about having the ability to make choices and act according to your will without interference.
• Example: Imagine you have the freedom to choose your favorite ice cream flavor at an ice cream parlor.
• No one is stopping you from picking the flavor you like the most.
• That's freedom—it's the absence of someone telling you what to do.
2. Liberty:
• Liberty is a specific kind of freedom that often emphasizes the absence of oppressive restrictions or government
interference.
• It's about having certain rights and protections that ensure you can make choices without undue limitations.
• Example: In a democratic country, you have the liberty to express your opinions freely without fear of being
arrested or silenced by the government.
• This means you have the right to speak your mind, and the government protects that right.
Real Meaning and Nature:
• The meaning of liberty is generally taken in a wrong way as it is identified with the absence of restraints and
limitations.
• It is taken synonymously with man's right to 'do what he likes’.
• Hobbes calls it 'license' or ‘a condition to do what you like' that prevails in the hypothetical state of nature.
• In a correct sense, liberty means man’s right to do what is worth doing.
• Social life isregulated by a set of principles or norms that make man's life civilized.
• These restraints lay down the line of distinction between good and bad, right and wrong, moral and immoral, legal
and illegal.
• Thus viewed, liberty means man's right to do what he wants to do for the sake of making the best possible
development of his personality by following a course that is good, or right, or moral, or lawful.
• In short, the real meaning of liberty should be understood with this point in view that the liberty of an individual is
relative to that of others
Meaning of Liberty (Negative vs Positive)
• One way is called the "negative" view of freedom, and it focuses on the idea that freedom means having as few rules or
restrictions as possible.
• In this view, rules and restrictions are seen as bad because they limit our individual freedom.
• For example, the philosopher John Stuart Mill believed that any form of restriction is a problem, and it's always better to
let people do what they want without too much control from the government.
• To make his point clear, Mill divided people's actions into two categories: things they do that only affect themselves (like
choosing their religion or reading a book), and things they do that can harm other people's freedom.
• Mill said the government shouldn't interfere with what people do in the first category but should step in when someone's
actions harm others.
• However, nowadays, this "negative" view of freedom isn't as popular.
• We realize that we live in a society where our actions can impact others, So, there's a "positive" view of freedom that says
some restrictions are necessary for the well-being of everyone.
• For instance, we can't let someone harm themselves or create harmful things like obscene literature.
• This view says that every aspect of a person's life matters to society because it can affect not only their own well-being but
also the well-being and actions of those around them.
Positive Liberty:
• Positive liberty, as explained by T.H. Green, refers to the ability of individuals to fulfill their potential and achieve
self-realization by having control over their lives and circumstances.
• It's not just about being free from external constraints but also having the necessary resources and opportunities
to pursue one's goals and aspirations.
• For example, suppose a person wants to become a doctor but lacks access to education and healthcare.
• In this case, positive liberty would involve providing the individual with the necessary resources such as education,
healthcare, and support systems to enable them to pursue their goal of becoming a doctor.
• It's about empowering individuals to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives by removing obstacles and enabling them
to make choices that align with their own values and aspirations.
Kinds of Liberty:
1. Natural Liberty: Freedom from physical constraints; the ability to move and act without physical impediments.
Example: The freedom to walk in a park.
2. Social Liberty: Freedom from social norms and prejudices; the ability to express one's identity and beliefs openly.
Example: Freedom to choose one's religion.
3. Political Liberty: Freedom to participate in government and influence decision-making. Example: The right to vote
in elections.
4. National Liberty: Sovereignty and independence of a nation from external control. Example: A country's freedom
from colonial rule.
5. Economic Liberty: Freedom to engage in economic activities and make choices about one's finances. Example: The
freedom to start a business.
6. International Liberty: Freedom from foreign interference in a nation's affairs and the ability to conduct foreign
relations independently. Example: A nation's right to determine its foreign policy.
7. Moral Liberty: Freedom to make ethical choices and act in accordance with one's conscience. Example: Choosing
to help others out of moral duty.
Relationship between Liberty and Equaity:
Both are conflicting:
• Sometimes, liberty and equality can be in conflict, as explained by philosopher John Rawls.
• Rawls said that if we let people have complete freedom to get rich without limits, it can lead to a big gap between the rich
and the poor.
• To make things more equal, Rawls suggested a rule called the "difference principle."
• It means that we should only allow inequalities if they help the least fortunate in society.
• For instance, if some people have a lot of money, they should pay more in taxes to help those who are struggling.
Both are complementary:
• On the other hand, philosopher Amartya Sen believes that liberty and equality can work together.
• Sen thinks that if we give people more freedom to do things, it can make society more equal.
• For example, if we provide good education for everyone, it gives people the freedom to learn and improve their lives.
• This helps both individual freedom (liberty) and the chance for everyone to have similar opportunities (equality).
• So, Sen's idea is that liberty and equality can be like friends, not always in conflict.
Relationship between Liberty and Democracy:
• The relationship between liberty and democracy is like a close friendship. Liberty means having the freedom to make choices
and live your life as you want, as long as you don't harm others. Democracy, on the other hand, is a way of running a country
where people get to vote for their leaders and have a say in the rules and decisions that affect their lives.
Liberty within Democracy:
• In democratic countries, they care a lot about individual freedom. They give people rights like freedom of speech (so you can
say what you think), freedom of the press (so journalists can write news without censorship), and the right to gather and
protest peacefully. These freedoms are really important in a democracy because they let people express their opinions and
hold their leaders accountable.
Democracy Protects Liberty:
• Democracy works to protect your freedom. Elected leaders are responsible to the people who voted for them. This means
leaders have to listen to the people and make sure their choices and policies don't take away your freedom. They also have
systems in place, like courts, to make sure that people's rights are respected.
Balancing Act:
• However, there can be challenges. Sometimes, in the name of security, governments might want to limit some freedoms, like
the right to privacy. This can be a tough balance because they need to protect people but also respect their rights.
• In the end, liberty and democracy go hand in hand. Democracy is the system that ensures your voice is heard, and liberty is
the freedom to use that voice. They work together to create a society where people can live freely.
Liberty: Modern technological society
• The concept of "liberty," or personal freedom, is still achievable in our modern technological society, but it does come with
new challenges and considerations.
• Here's how liberty can be realized in today's technology-driven world:
Challenges in the Digital Age:
• In our digital age, there are concerns about privacy and security. For example, when you use the internet or your
smartphone, you might worry that your personal information is being tracked, which can feel like an invasion of your
freedom.
Protecting Liberty:
• Governments and organizations have put in place laws and regulations to protect your digital privacy. Think of these as rules
that help balance the use of technology with your personal freedom. Encryption technology also lets you keep your online
conversations and data private.
Empowerment and Access:
• Technology has given you access to a world of information and knowledge. This means you have the power to make
informed decisions and use your freedom more effectively.
Balancing Act:
• It's important to strike a balance between personal liberty and collective security. For example, while some surveillance is
needed for safety, it shouldn't go too far and invade your privacy.
In this unit we learned
• Introduction
• Difference b/w Liberty and freedom
• Real meaning and nature of Liberty
• Meaning of Liberty (Negative/Positive)
• Kind of Liberty
• Relationship between Liberty and Equality
• Relationship between Liberty and Democracy
• Liberty: Modern technological society
Previous Years’ Questions

1. Is the concept of `liberty' realizable in the modern technological society? Explain. (2020/10)
2. Does liberty put limitations to equality? Discuss. (2019/15)
3. How far can liberty and equality be considered as distinctive features of democracy? Discuss. (2018/20)