PHL271H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Traffic Light, Negative Liberty, Thomas Hobbes
PHL22 – Leture
Berlin, To Conepts of Lierty
Negative liberty answers the question:
• What is the area ithi ith the sujet should e left to do or e hateer
he is (independently) able to do or be, without interference from other
persos?
• If e a’t do soethig that e at to do, efore e ask hether this is a
lack of negative liberty, we have to ask what the cause is for us not getting
what we want
o E.g. if e a’t sed our kids to the shool e at to, e hae to ask
why – if it’s eause the did’t pass the etrae ea, there is o
interference with our negative liberty
• Berlin: we have to be wary of negative liberty
• We have negative liberty:
o As log as others do’t iterfere ith us
o Not limited by our own inabilities
The state should protect negative liberty
• Basic set of liberties state should protect
o Freedom of religion, expression, association, etc.
• Why not maximise liberty?
o Would lead to constant conflict
o There are other values, irreducible to liberty
• Whe soeoe’s egatie lierty is sacrificed, there is a loss
o The loss remains even if other values are thereby promoted
o We a sarifie soe peoples’ liert i order to irease other
peoples’ ulture, happiess, et.
o Whe soeoe’s liert is sarified, there is alas a loss, een if
other, more important values are promoted
o It is still justifiable, but we are still losing something (345)
o Certain values are irreducible – the a’t e opared
o Opposition to utilitarianism – maximised good is interchangeable
Positive liberty answers another question
• What, or ho, is the soure of otrol or iterferee that a deterie
soeoe to do, or e, this rather tha that?
We have positive liberty
• When we are able to formulate own life plan and follow through on it
o Assuming a REASONABLE share of resources/human abilities)
• Positive liberty can be limited by:
o Inadequate resources (less that your fair share)
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Document Summary
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