L- 25

POL 110 Introduction to Political Theory

Unit-III
Liberty. Equality and Gender

Today’s Discussion Topic

Concept and Type of Liberty

Resource Person: Dr. Km. Birendri

Liberty
Liberty is a central concept in political science as well as human rights. Without liberty, the
human beings cannot realise the sense rights and particular human rights.
During the ancient and medieval period, the concept of liberty was totally absent. The Greek
philosophers, Socrates, Plato and others did not accept the notion of individual liberty as
against society or state.
The modern period begins with the renaissance movement. Its hallmark was the emergence
of capitalism and the capitalist clan. Its demand was liberty against the then existing religious,
economic, social and moral order. The absence of all kinds of restraints - religious, moral
economic and political was regarded as an essential condition for the liberty of the individual.
In modern politics, liberty is the state of being free within society from control or oppressive
restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behaviour, or political views. Thus liberty
entails the responsible use of freedom under the rule of law without depriving anyone else of
their freedom.
Meaning and Definitions of Liberty
The term, 'Liberty' is derived from the Latin word 'liber', which means free. The meaning
of the word liberty is absence of restraint and liberty for individual thus means that he
should be free from restraints. But this is very clear that fully unrestrained liberty is not
possible in human society. Along with it is also very difficult to give a precise meaning of
liberty. The word 'liberty is rich in connotation and has suggested different ideas at
different times.
According to Massino Salvadori, "Liberty is free choice, each individual's own decision
concerning his own course of action; it belongs to himself, not to the external world that
surrounds him."
D.D., Raphael says, "Freedom means absence of restraints.
Seeley also defined liberty in same way, liberty is primarily absence of restraints
Two important points however have come to our knowledge so far - (i) the real meaning
of liberty changes from age to age (ii) liberty of each individual is necessarily relative to
that of others. Liberty is the power of doing a thing without harming others.
MCQs

Q. 1. The word Liberty is origin from ?

A. Latin word ‘Liber’
B. Greek word ‘Labor’
C. French word ‘Liver’
D. Latin word ‘Labro’
MCQ
Q. 2. Who said that liberty is primarily absence of
restraints?
A. Seeley
B. Laski
C. Benjamin
D. James Mill
Negative Aspect of Liberty

The concept of negative liberty originated with the philosophy of the nineteenth century
liberalism. John Locke was a great exponent of this liberty and considered it as 'a
natural and inalienable right of the individual. In the nineteenth century the negative
concept of liberty was supported by such classical liberals as Adam Smith, Bentham and
Herbert Spencer.

The negative liberty supports negative dimension of liberty that is contained in an

affirmation of the 'absence of restraints'. In purely idealistic terms, it means to hinder the
hindrances to good life.
MCQ
Q. 3. The liberty, which people enjoy for earning their bread, is
called?
A. Economic Liberty
B. Political Liberty
C. Civil Liberty
D. Natural Liberty
Positive Aspect of Liberty

The negative view of liberty was found to be high unsatisfactory as it totally ignored the
social and other aspects of the individual liberty. It led to the exploitation of workers and
bred many more evils in society.

Thus, the negative concept of liberty was challenged and a more positive view of liberty
emerged in society. The positive view of liberty was first put forward by the idealist thinkers
Immanuel Kant, Hegel, Fichte and T.H. Green etc.

They all emphasised that the state is not a necessary evil, but a positive good. Laws do not
infringe liberty but are an essential condition for its existence.
Types of Liberty

Natural Liberty
Civil Liberty
Political Liberty
Economic Liberty
National Liberty
MCQ
Q. 4. How many types exists of liberty?
A. Four
B. Five
C. Six
D. Seven
Thank You