OPINION
In the essay presented by Isaiah Berlin who argues in favour of negative freedom , in my opinion the concept of negative liberty has been tactfully interpreted so as to avoid it from losing the debate between positive and negative liberty. It is wrong of Berlin to suggest one can be free if the agent is not impeded by any physical obstacle, but that real freedom is both internal and external.
I feel that those who defend the positive notion do not want to force others into our way of life, but simply to help others realize themselves so they can best utilize their negative freedom. These two concepts are not incompatible, but positive liberty goes beyond the goal of negative to argue that there must be more than just leaving people alone for them to truly be free. Therefore, I reject the notion that negative freedom is the ‘truer’ form. It is part of true freedom, but it is not necessary and sufficient.The concept of positive liberty is meaningful and direct. Again, a knowledgeable society is the only society that will be able to counter a government or other force that is limiting freedom by imposing a collectivized mentality and common-good that is untested …show more content…
The idea of freedom as an opportunity concept is perfectly able to acknowledge that there are valuable and less valuable opportunities.the action of doing what you please does not necessarily constitute self-realization – human beings can have bad desires, they can even have desires they know to be bad themselves. Therefore, it very hard to hold the Berlinian position that a person can be free if they are being weighed down by internal, unhealthy desires – no matter how few physical constraints they
In the essay presented by Isaiah Berlin who argues in favour of negative freedom , in my opinion the concept of negative liberty has been tactfully interpreted so as to avoid it from losing the debate between positive and negative liberty. It is wrong of Berlin to suggest one can be free if the agent is not impeded by any physical obstacle, but that real freedom is both internal and external.
I feel that those who defend the positive notion do not want to force others into our way of life, but simply to help others realize themselves so they can best utilize their negative freedom. These two concepts are not incompatible, but positive liberty goes beyond the goal of negative to argue that there must be more than just leaving people alone for them to truly be free. Therefore, I reject the notion that negative freedom is the ‘truer’ form. It is part of true freedom, but it is not necessary and sufficient.The concept of positive liberty is meaningful and direct. Again, a knowledgeable society is the only society that will be able to counter a government or other force that is limiting freedom by imposing a collectivized mentality and common-good that is untested …show more content…
The idea of freedom as an opportunity concept is perfectly able to acknowledge that there are valuable and less valuable opportunities.the action of doing what you please does not necessarily constitute self-realization – human beings can have bad desires, they can even have desires they know to be bad themselves. Therefore, it very hard to hold the Berlinian position that a person can be free if they are being weighed down by internal, unhealthy desires – no matter how few physical constraints they