POLI 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Positive Liberty, Negative Liberty, Pierre Trudeau
22 Feb 2016
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Freedom = liberty (the terms are interchangeable) May be legitimate to constrain freedom in order to obtain other goods . Since freedom is defined as the absence of constraint, the identification of constraints on our freedom is a useful starting point. Possible constraints can be divided into those that are external to us, and those that are internal to us, the latter including characteristics such as rationality. No necessary relationship between freedom and the absence of democracy. It is possible to imagine a benign dictatorship that allows considerable freedom. Others physically prevent us from doing what we want to do. Unfair or discriminatory laws may also count. May or may not qualify as politically relevant. Relevance is decided by the limits of human agency. Language of freedom is appropriate if human agency can correct the impediment. E. g. wheelchair accessibility for public buildings can reduce the constraint of being wheelchair bound.
