what is the difference between positive and negative liberty
Answers
ρσsiτivє ℓiвєrτy is τнє ρσssєssiσท σƒ τнє cαραciτy τσ αcτ υρσท σทє's ƒrєє ωiℓℓ, αs σρρσsє∂ τσ ทєgατivє ℓiвєrτy, ωнicн is ƒrєє∂σм ƒrσм єxτєrทαℓ rєsτrαiทτ σท σทє's αcτiσทs.
Answer:
Positive liberty refers to "freedom to". It is related with answering a very simple question, "who governs me?". It is basically the liberty of an individual to govern himself / herself. Negative liberty, on the other hand, refers to "freedom from". It is related with answering a very simple question, "how far does the State can interfere with me ?". It is the liberty of an individual to be free from excessive control by the government.
Negative Liberty:
Negative Liberty is the absence of barrier, resistance, hindrance, opposition, obstruction etc. It is simply being let alone to do, whatever one desires to do. According to Berlin, Negative liberty is all about freedom from interference or intervention from others. Negative liberty deals with the sphere, where individuals are free from opposition from others. As such, larger the level of non-intervention, the greater one's negative liberty. Berlin states that, negative liberty indirectly affects the life of others. Therefore there is a need to reasonably restrict this liberty for the survival of other values such as equality and justice. Berlin argues that complete negative freedom can be granted to the people only in a utopia, where every individual possess higher rational thinking and where the desire of individuals are in complete harmony. However for Berlin such type of society can never be established.
Positive Liberty:
The concept of positive liberty is very complex in comparison to negative liberty. It is not liberty from interference rather it is the liberty to do something.