Two Types of Liberty

We often think of freedom as being able to act without restraints. But as one’s freedom can affect the freedom of another, acting without restraint usually creates problems. To prevent that, we create rules. Philosopher Isaiah Berlin went one step further and distinguished two types of freedom: negative liberty, the absence of constraints, and positive liberty, the power to act regardless of limitations.

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Isaiah Berlin distinguishes in his book “Two Concepts Of Liberty” between negative liberty and positive liberty. 

Negative liberty describes the individual freedom from something: from external constraint, and from outside interference. It’s the absence of obstacles within a society.

Positive liberty means freedom to do something: to act upon one’s will, to take control of one’s life. It’s the possession of the power to proceed regardless of structural limitations in society. 

Sounds confusing? The problems of two imaginary people illustrate this difference. This is Frank. He lives in Freeland with the two things he loves most: his kids and his weights. And then there is Lilly. She lives in Liberty, values justice above all, and dreams of becoming a judge. But both face lots of obstacles. 

Negative Liberty
Negative Liberty

To Frank, there is nothing more important than his health and his family. He gets up very early for his routines and then takes the children to school. He pays strict attention to his diet and his kids’ education and looks down on people who neglect both.

He doesn’t like the authorities. In Freeland, they collect lots of taxes to fund the public health care system. Why pay the medical bills for those that don’t care about their health, he wonders. Frank seeks freedom from these taxes.

Frank loves to lift weights in front of his house once the kids are in bed. Yet recently, Freeland prohibited working out in public after 10 pm. For Frank, that’s none of the government’s business. He wants freedom from laws that restrict his recreational habits.

And there is one more thing.

Frank

Frank also doesn’t like public schools. He thinks they are useless and would prefer to teach his kids at home. But in Freeland homeschooling is illegal. Frank thinks that is outrageous and wants freedom from compulsory education.

Eventually, he’s had enough and moves to Liberty where the taxes are lower, the government smaller, and where he believes he’s got greater freedom from external constraints.

Lilly is already there and feels trapped. 

Positive Liberty
Positive Liberty

Lilly recently tripped and broke her leg. Now she needs surgery but medical treatments are expensive in Liberty. To pay for it, Lilly has to take out a loan. She thinks the system is unfair and feels she doesn’t have the freedom to receive decent affordable health care. And things get worse.

After her surgery, Lilly needs to rehabilitate and takes walks around the block. This is when she realizes that she hates the smoke from all the cars on the street. The smog she inhales is clearly dangerous. Lilly finds she has no freedom to recover appropriately.

Lilly

This injustice reminds Lilly day in and day out that she wants to become a judge. But since she’s from a disadvantaged family, she can’t afford the tuition fees of a university. And to take out another loan scares her. Eventually, she just feels frustrated and bitter. She thinks she has no freedom to pursue her dreams. 

Lilly isn’t happy in Liberty and moves to Freeland with a stronger welfare state. A place where she has the power to act regardless of structural limitations in society.

Clash of ideologies
Supporters of negative liberty

Supporters of negative liberty tend to sympathize with classical libertarian thoughts. They think of the state as a coercive force that limits individual freedom and prefer a small government with few taxes and regulations.

Advocates for positive liberty

Advocates of positive liberty tend to identify as social liberals. They usually want a big welfare state that ensures a fair redistribution of wealth and provides equal access to opportunities. 

What do you think?
WDYT Two types of liberty

What about you? Which kind of freedom do you want for yourself? And do you think Isaiah Berlin’s theory, “the two concepts of liberty”, is right or wrong? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Sources

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Classroom activities

In the following activity, students will learn about the Two Concepts of Liberty byIsaiah Berlin. 

  • Introduce the concept of freedom, and ask the students what they think having freedom means. 
  • In the US, people can buy and carry a firearm while in Norway gun acquisition is heavily restricted by laws. In the US medical care and education are mostly private and not restricted by laws, meaning many people have to pay to have access to these services, while in Norway, people have access to state-regulated free healthcare and education. Share these facts with the class, and ask them which country has more freedom in their opinion. 
  • Show the class Sprouts’ video on the Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin. 
  • Ask the class again about the US and Norway, but this time tell them to integrate in their answers what they learned in the video. 
  • Ask the class what they think are the positive and negative sides of each type of liberty, and if one should be used more in modern societies. 

Collaborators

  • Script: Karl von Luckwald (Founder of wedo-air.com)
  • Editor: Jonas Koblin
  • Artist: Pascal Gaggelli
  • Voice: Matt Abbott
  • Coloring: Sasalux
  • Editing: Peera Lertsukittipongsa
  • Sound Design: Miguel Ojeda
  • Production: Selina Bador
  • Fact-checking: Ludovico Saint Amour Di Chanaz