PHIL 320A Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Positive Liberty, Negative Liberty

• School: University of Arizona
• Department: Philosophy Main
• Course: PHIL 320A
• Professor: All

Document Summary

Chapter 34: two concepts of liberty by isaiah berlin p. 388. Political theory the branch of philosophy that starts from the discovery, or application, of moral notions in the sphere of political relations. To understand movements/conflicts between humans is above all to understand the ideas/attitudes to live involved in them. Our own attitudes and activities are likely to remain obscure to us until we understand the dominant issues of our world. Central question of politics the question of obedience and coercion. Section one on the notion of negative freedom. To coerce a man is to deprive him of freedom. Two political senses of freedom/liberty 1. negative 2. positive. Normally said to be free to the point where no one interferes with us. The area in which a man can act unobstructed by others.