Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Positive Liberty, Negative Liberty
26 Feb 2016
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Problem: any freedom is both a freedom from and a freedom to. There is only one concept of liberty (or freedom) X is free from y to do (or become) z". X is an agent, y is an obstacle or constraint, and z is a goal or end. A collective self like a class or nation. What do i want; what i would want if i recognized my true interests. Conceptions of liberty: three distinctions: effective freedom vs formal freedom, freedom as autonomy vs freedom as doing what one wants, freedom as political participation vs freedom as beginning where politics ends. Effective freedom: having the power or capacity to act in a particular way. Right wing view: freedom is non-interference, so supporting freedom means a minimal state and a free market economy. Left wing view: freedom is actually being able to do something, so supporting freedom implies an enabling state to improve on market outcomes.
