PHILOSOPHY - FREEDOM

• In the area of political philosophy, discussions about freedom have been central to understanding the nature of the state and individual rights
• While there are various perspectives on freedom, we will explore the ideas of three influential philosophers: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and John Stuart Mill
• We will specifically focus on how these philosophers' notions of freedom align with Isaiah Berlin's categorization of "negative freedom"
• Thomas Hobbes


  • Lived during a tumultuous period in England, marked by civil war and political instability
  • His major work, "Leviathan" (1651), is a response to the chaos and violence he witnessed
• Hobbes' notion of freedom

  • Freedom is not the absence of constraints but the absence of external impediments to one's desires
  • True freedom is achieved when individuals surrender their natural rights to a sovereign authority in a social contract, creating a commonwealth where external violence is restrained, allowing for the pursuit of individual interests
• Hobbes' conception of freedom aligns with Berlin's notion of negative freedom, where freedom is defined as the absence of external interference or coercion
• John Locke


  • Key figure in the Enlightenment era, which emphasized reason, individual rights, and limited government
  • His ideas heavily influenced the American and French Revolutions
• Locke's notion of freedom

  • Individuals possess natural rights, including life, liberty, and property
  • In the state of nature, individuals have the freedom to exercise these rights without interference
  • To secure freedom and protect property, individuals enter into a social contract to form a civil society with a limited government
• Locke's view of freedom aligns with negative freedom, as it emphasizes the absence of arbitrary authority and interference with one's natural rights
• John Stuart Mill


  • Utilitarian philosopher and a strong advocate of individual liberty and freedom of thought
• Mill's notion of freedom


  • Individuals should have the maximum possible freedom to pursue their interests, provided that their actions do not harm others
  • The "Harm Principle" states that society can only restrict an individual's freedom to prevent harm to others
  • Freedom of thought, expression, and individuality are crucial for societal progress and the pursuit of truth
• Mill's conception of freedom closely aligns with Isaiah Berlin's negative freedom, as it underscores the importance of freedom from external interference and coercion
• Hobbes, Locke, and Mill, while differing in their approaches, all contribute to the understanding of freedom as negative freedom, where the absence of external interference and coercion is central to the concept
• These philosophers' ideas have had a profound impact on modern political thought and continue to shape discussions on individual rights and the role of government in safeguarding freedom
• Positive freedom is a notion that delves into the idea of self-mastery, self-realization, and the capacity to act autonomously in alignment with one's own authentic values and desires
• Buddhist notion of positive freedom


  • Freedom is achieved by mastering one's desires and attachments, ultimately attaining Nirvana, a state of complete freedom from suffering
  • Positive freedom involves the ethical development of one's character, cultivating virtues like compassion, wisdom, and mindfulness
  • The key to positive freedom lies in detaching oneself from worldly desires and transcending the ego, leading to spiritual liberation and inner peace
• Kant's notion of positive freedom


  • Positive freedom is grounded in moral autonomy, the capacity to act according to rational, self-imposed moral principles
  • The categorical imperative guides moral actions, emphasizing that individuals should act in a way that they would will to become a universal law
  • Positive freedom is about self-legislating moral principles that align with rationality and human dignity, enabling individuals to act freely and morally
• Rousseau's notion of positive freedom

  • Positive freedom is tied to individuals' participation in creating the laws and norms of a just society
  • It involves the capacity to act as a citizen in shaping the rules that govern one's life
  • Freedom through citizenship: individuals are both free and equal participants in determining the common good, making positive freedom a collective and individual endeavor
• The Buddhist notion of liberation from suffering, Kant's emphasis on moral autonomy, and Rousseau's focus on collective self-governance all contribute to our understanding of positive freedom
• Fromm's notion of positive freedom


  • Genuine freedom involves self-awareness, responsibility, and the ability to act in alignment with one's authentic self
  • Positive freedom implies that individuals must engage in continuous self-exploration and self-realization
  • Societal structures should support the development of individuals who are capable of responsible and authentic actions
• Steiner's notion of positive freedom


  • True freedom emerges from spiritual development and ethical considerations
  • Freedom, when aligned with moral principles, leads to harmonious and just social structures
  • Individual freedom is interconnected with the well-being of the community
  • Individuals, through their moral development, contribute to the greater good
• Fromm's positive freedom emphasizes self-realization and authenticity, while Steiner's holistic approach connects individual freedom with ethical and spiritual development
• Existentialism is a philosophical movement that explores the nature of human existence, emphasizing individuality, choice, and authenticity
• Existentialist notions of freedom


  • Freedom is a central theme, as existentialists emphasize that humans are condemned to be free, meaning that we have the burden of making choices and taking responsibility for our actions
  • True freedom lies in authenticity, which involves making choices in alignment with one's values, rather than succumbing to external influences or societal norms
  • The existentialist view of freedom often involves anguish, as individuals grapple with the weight of their choices and the responsibility that comes with them
• Sartre's conception of freedom


  • Radical freedom: Humans are absolutely free to choose their actions, and this freedom extends even to choosing one's own values and ethics
  • "Bad faith" refers to individuals denying their freedom and pretending to be bound by external circumstances or social roles
  • Existential anguish accompanies freedom, as the weight of choices and the absence of external guidance can lead to anxiety and uncertainty
• Sartre's conception of freedom aligns more with negative freedom, emphasizing the absence of predetermined essence and the radical freedom to choose without external constraints
• Sartre's freedom differs from Berlin's positive freedom, which emphasizes self-realization and acting in alignment with self-imposed values
• Determinism is the philosophical position or belief that all events, including human actions and choices, are predetermined or governed by causal laws
• Determinism

  The philosophical position or belief that all events, including human actions and choices, are predetermined or governed by causal laws
• Kinds of Determinism

  • Hard Determinism
  • Soft Determinism
• Hard Determinism


  It posits that all events, including human actions, are predetermined and inevitable, driven by factors beyond human control such as fate or a deterministic universe
• Soft Determinism


  It suggests that while there are factors influencing human behavior, individuals still possess a degree of free will
• Major Proponents of Determinism

  • Leucippus and Democritus
  • Pierre-Simon Laplace
• Arguments for Determinism


  • Causal Consistency
  • Scientific Basis
  • Compatibility with Natural Laws
• Quantum mechanics introduced the concept of indeterminacy at the subatomic level, challenging strict determinism
• Critics argue that determinism threatens human agency and moral responsibility, as individuals might not be genuinely responsible for their actions if they are determined by external causes
• Freedom


  The capacity of individuals to make choices and act according to their own will, free from external coercion or constraints
• Major Proponents of Freedom

  • Immanuel Kant
  • Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Arguments for Freedom

  • Moral Autonomy
  • Human Dignity
• Challenges to Freedom

  • Deterministic Challenges
  • External Constraints