He says that “being free” and “being able” are two terms different from each other. Here the condition of “feeling free” appears, but not the “being free”. ![]() A convict may commit a crime deliberately in order to go to prison for security reasons. The distinction may be illustrated in the following way. In his opinion liberty (Barry uses both liberty and freedom interchangeably) includes both meanings. Feeling free is a state of contentment and “being free” is a state in which major impediments to making choices have been removed. According to Barry the following is the distinction. He suggests to draw distinction between “feeling free” and “being free”. Norman Barry pointed out another feature of liberty. If a person creates obstacles, authority removes them by force.Ĥ. Sometimes a man is forced to act accordingly to make way for the exercise of freedom to others. We can say liberty and coercion are antithetical terms. When man is forced to do a work that will lead to the loss of liberty. Behind every action there shall exist spontaneity. Freedom is understood as voluntary and un-coerced action. We can say that freedom is a material condition of social life.ģ. In the atmosphere, the individual will be permitted to perform such activities that will facilitate the development of the best qualities a man possesses. ![]() But Raphael says that conscience is not always the force that guides the individual for action. The conscience is the force that guides the individual. Whenever an individual intends to do something he is supposed to be guided by his conscience. This is an important characteristic of liberty. Freedom to do means the freedom to choose among the alternatives which again means the freedom of conscience. Nature of Liberty :Īfter thorough study the political scientists have found out several features of liberty or freedom.ġ. This sense is generally used in political science. Raphael further says that freedom means to carry out what one has chosen to do. He further maintains that freedom is the absence of restraints. Hence liberty is an atmosphere where individuals will face a number of choices and they will pick up one or more according to their requirement. If this scope or opportunity is not available to the individual that will mean the absence of freedom. It also denotes a congenial atmosphere in which men will be able to flourish their good qualities.įreedom also means the scope to select the required alternative from a number of alternatives. It is connected with values, development of mind and inherent qualities of individuals. By contrast, the political scientists use the term in different senses. It is primarily a matter of mind and psychology. The philosophers use it as a property of the will. Heywood says that philosophers and political scientists do not use the term in identical sense. “By liberty I mean the eager maintenance of that atmosphere in which men have the opportunity to be their best selves”. ![]() Harold Laski’s definition is well-known and oft-quoted. When we find that an individual is free to do as he likes it will be assumed that he is free, that is, he has liberty. In our day-to-day speech or conversations we use the term to mean absence of constraints or limitations or obstacles. There is large number of definitions of liberty or freedom. When a nation is under foreign domination it cannot be called a free nation so also the citizens (it is used in general sense) are not free. Today the words ‘liberation movement’ are very often used. Similarly, in recent years we witness the emergence of another word which is a variation of liberty-it is liberation. So we can say that liberty cannot be separated from toleration. Naturally if one does not tolerate others’ actions, the people cannot have liberty. It is because the liberty of one is restriction to others, and vice versa. Toleration means to allow other men to do their duties and even if that creates disadvantage to some that should be tolerated. The term liberty is associated with two other words-toleration and liberation. In political science, however, the interchangeable use is the general practice. Here liberation is used to denote freedom or liberty. For example, we call national liberation movement of Africa or Latin America. Liberty is generally used in the case of individual and freedom refers to greater entity such as freedom of a country.īut this distinction does not always hold good. We call “freedom movement”, “freedom fighter” etc. But both the words mean same thing and they are used interchangeably. Many people are accustomed to use freedom. ![]() The root of liberty is another two words libertas and liberte. ADVERTISEMENTS: Meaning and Definitions of Liberty :
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