Chapter 2 Freedom Political Theory Class 11

Ideal of Freedom

The ideal of freedom has been @ core of various struggles. The notion of freedom is to be free from fear, of society's opinion, or for that matter any external authority to lead a dignified life. Aung San Su Kyi and Nelson Mandela are the prime examples of fight for freedom,

• Freedom

Harm Principle

John Stuart Mill Introduced this concept. There is a distinction b/w actions: Self regarding and Other Regarding Self Regarding: The actions which have consequences only on the self. Other Regarding: The actions that have consequences to others. Eg. Physically beating someone, Only if Other Regarding action is harming someone should the society exercise power. For minor harm Mill suggests only social disapproval.

Proportionate treatment of law must be there(degree of punishment to be proportionate to degree of Harm). The above set of restrictions were held to be "Reasonable Restrictions" as held by the constitutional discussions in India.

Reasonable Restrictions

Exercising liberty can lead to two areas:Where the rights can be curtailed and other sacred areas which must be inviolable. The rights which are inviolable are an expression of Negative Liberty. While positive liberties are enjoyed by the changing conditions of society and can lead to breach of the inviolable liberties. Voltaire’s statement — ‘I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to death your right to say it’.  

Positive and Negative Liberties