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Book No. – 002 (Political Science)
Book Name – Political Theory (Rajeev Bhargava)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. INTRODUCTION
2. EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT
2.1. J. S. Mill on Liberty
2.2. Liberty: A Liberal Good?
3. CLASSIFICATION: NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE LIBERTY
3.1. Negative Liberty
3.2. Positive Liberty
3.3. J. S. Mill and Negative and Positive Liberty
3.4. Insufficiency of Negative Liberty: Charles Taylor
3.5. Liberty: Freedom as a Triadic Relation
4. LIBERTY AND OTHER CONCEPTS
4.1. Liberty and Equality
4.2. Liberty and Rights
5. THE CONCEPT OF LIBERTY IN INDIA
5.1. Liberty and the Indian Constitution
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LANGUAGE
Liberty
Chapter – 3
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
- The term freedom can be used in different contexts, each highlighting various dimensions, such as state of affairs, perception, choice, denial of material needs, and denial of dignity.
- Substituting liberty for freedom in these contexts emphasizes the complexity of the concept and its interconnection with ideas like equality, rights, and justice.
- Liberty cannot be defined by a single, fixed meaning as it varies depending on the context.
- Example sentence: “I am at liberty to learn how to drive a car” illustrates three connotations of liberty:
- No hindrances to the decision (no physical barrier preventing the action).
- Existence conditions are available (access to car, instructor, safe roads, etc.).
- Choice is possible (the option to learn is available).
- Liberty involves choice, the absence of constraints, and the conditions that enable exercising that choice.
EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT
- Liberty has been viewed differently by various thinkers throughout history, with each view reflecting the historical phase and philosophical outlook of the thinker.
- The sentence “I am free to take my political theory exam” highlights the absence of constraints and raises questions about whether liberty includes actions like cheating, which may be driven by fear or necessity.
- Hobbes views liberty as the absence of impediments to action, with fear and necessity being the primary motivators of human action. He does not distinguish between acts of liberty and acts driven by coercion.
- Hobbes’ notion undermines the concept of choice and fails to incorporate a moral framework, as seen in the example of a beggar who acts out of necessity, not liberty.
- Locke views liberty as a natural right, defined within a moral framework guided by the Laws of Nature and equality. His understanding allows choice but restricts it to actions that do not harm others.
- Liberty for Locke is inalienable and universal, rooted in human nature, and protected by civil society. The state has no right to restrict liberty but only to regulate it.
- Locke’s framework does not fully address social inequalities that hinder liberty, as exemplified by the beggar who may not truly have the freedom to choose.
- Rousseau focuses on liberation from inequality and hierarchy, viewing liberty as a collective venture aimed at the common good. He believes that individuals achieve liberty through obedience to law that reflects the general will of society.
- Rousseau’s idea of choice is not absolute; it is about choosing the right option, which is often pre-decided by societal needs, such as choosing pollution-free options like cycling instead of driving.
- Utilitarians, like Bentham, see liberty in terms of seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, with no distinction between different types of pleasures. This leads to a conflict of liberty when one person’s pleasure harms others.
- Bentham’s utilitarian view of liberty lacks moral responsibility and violates the harm principle, which is central to Locke’s understanding of liberty.
- The utilitarian maxim of the greatest happiness for the greatest number is challenged by cases where one individual’s freedom causes harm to others, such as the case of a drug addict.
- J.S. Mill refines the utilitarian view of liberty, addressing its limitations and will be discussed further in the next section.