Negative Freedom

Notes

Claim

Negative freedom means the freedom from dependencies and Self-imposed limits increase ability to act and creativity. Negative freedom is like "freedom from", we want to break the shackles that holds us back so that we could do whatever we want.

Explanation

This is different from Freedom means having the ability to pursue your goals that focuses on "freedom to", the ability to pursue and fulfill goals and dreams.

Usually negative freedom is visible, that are concrete laws, regulations and actions done against you that limit your available actions.

Why it matters

Examples

For example, we don't have negative freedom when we are put in jail. Our movement, our lifestyle, how we spend our time is restricted. Similarly, taxes can be conceived as something that harms our negative freedom because reduces our financial freedom.

Supporters

Opposers

Open questions

Visual

Overview

🔼Topic:: Freedom and Agency ↩️Origin:: Isaiah Berlin (philosopher) 🔗Link::