Difference between individual liberty and social liberty in rule of the road essay
Answers
Answer:
British writer and editor Alfred George Gardiner (1865–1946) was a highly regarded essayist and supporter of liberal political causes. In "On the Rule of the Road," Gardiner is addressing in a light and amusing style the "harm principle" set forth by John Stuart Mill in his seminal 1859 essay "On Liberty." The principle is that people should be free to act as they wish, free from government interference, insofar as their actions do not harm or infringe on the liberty of others.
In the anecdote of the lady with the basket and the example of the traffic at the crowded intersection of Piccadilly Circus in London, Gardiner is giving a concrete illustration of how liberty is simultaneously social and individual.
Individual liberty refers to our freedom to do what we wish when it does not impinge on the liberties of others or harm others. For example, if one owns a house and wishes to entertain oneself by hitting the interior walls with a sledgehammer or spray-painting obscenities on them, one should be free to do so. This is a matter of individual liberty. Defacing public property, though, means tax money must be spent on repairs, and thus, this action harms taxpayers. This becomes an issue of social liberty.
Gardiner's point concerning social liberty is that people give up a small amount of individual liberty in order to preserve collective liberty. People agree to obey traffic laws, ceding one set of liberties to society as a whole, in order to maximize the liberty of all to drive in a safe and efficient fashion. We give up our freedom to steal or murder to have the freedom not to be stolen from or murdered. The social liberties, therefore, are the ones that can only be guaranteed by collective agreement to cede certain individual liberties.
Explanation:
Individual liberty includes the freedom to choose their own speed, lane, and direction of travel, as well as their own level of caution and attention to the road. However, the social liberty of other drivers, which refers to their freedom to also use the road safely and efficiently.
In the context of driving, individual liberty refers to the freedom of each driver to make their own choices about how they operate their vehicle.
This includes the freedom to choose their own speed, lane, and direction of travel, as well as their own level of caution and attention to the road.
However, this individual liberty can come into conflict with the social liberty of other drivers, which refers to their freedom to also use the road safely and efficiently.
The rule of the road essay highlights that individual liberty must be balanced with social liberty in order to promote safety and efficiency on the road.
For example, if one driver exercises their individual liberty to drive too fast or recklessly, they may endanger the social liberty of other drivers to travel safely and without fear of collision.
Similarly, if one driver exercises their individual liberty to ignore traffic signals or signs, they may impede the social liberty of other drivers to travel efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
Therefore, the rule of the road essay suggests that individual liberty should be tempered by a sense of social responsibility and consideration for others.
Drivers should exercise their individual liberty in a way that promotes the social liberty of all drivers, rather than putting others at risk or causing unnecessary delays.
This requires a willingness to follow traffic laws and regulations, as well as a willingness to be aware of and respond to the actions of other drivers on the road.
Ultimately, the goal of balancing individual and social liberty is to create a safe and efficient driving environment for everyone.
Individual liberty includes the freedom to choose their own speed, lane, and direction of travel, as well as their own level of caution and attention to the road. However, the social liberty of other drivers, which refers to their freedom to also use the road safely and efficiently.
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