LiberalismPositive and negative freedom

Isaiah BerlinIn his influential analysis of freedom he

distinguished between 2 rival concepts – positive freedom and negative freedom

This is often portrayed as the distinction between being ‘free to do something’ and being ‘free from something’

Negative freedomClassical liberals believed in negative

freedom ie. non interference – the absence of external constraints upon the individual

This conception of freedom is negative in that it leaves the individual ‘at liberty’ to act as he/she wishes, whatever the consequences

Hobbes defined freedom as the ‘silence of the laws’

Negative freedomPoverty, disadvantage and disease may be

regarded as misfortunes, but from this viewpoint they cannot be said to limit freedom

Ideological implications – those who employ freedom in this negative sense are therefore inclined to support the minimal state and sympathise with laissez faire capitalism

Negative freedomThis classical liberal tradition of freedom

reflected in the ideas of the New Right/Thatcherism

From this approach freedom is expanded by rolling back the state, encouraging individuals to take greater responsibility for their own lives and circumstances

Freedom of choice in the market place

EvaluationPromotes a ‘survival of the fittest system’

which may undermine equality of opportunity and social justice

Council house sales, tax cuts and reduction of state benefits will broaden the realm of liberty

Critics – this conception of freedom may simply legitimise greed and grant the weak nothing more than the ‘freedom to starve’

Positive freedomFlaws of negative freedom led modern

liberals to redefine freedom, in order to remain true to core liberal principles and values

Concerned with the opportunities available to individuals to realise their true potential

Freedom ultimately means being free from the social evils that can blight human existence as identified in the Beveridge Report – want, disease............................

Positive freedomIt recognises social disadvantage (not just

law and physical restraint) as an enemy of freedom

Positive freedom suggest that liberty can be expanded by welfarism and economic intervention

Comes close to identifying freedom with equality of opportunity

EvaluationCritics – classical liberals and New Right –

this principle is linked to the growth of the ‘nanny state’- it allows our interests to be defined for us and so robs us of responsibility for our own lives

Positive freedom links closely to socialists and Marx – self fulfilment, human potential