TWO CONCEPTS

OF LIBERTY
ISAIAH BERLIN
Introduction
Study to which Political Theory is dedicated,
thrives on discord.
Engel talks about Replacing the Government of
persons by the Administration of things
When ends are agreed, only the question of
means remains.
Problem of Professional Philosophers-
Surprising and Dangerous.
Without the pressure of social forces, political
ideas are stillborn.
Why should I obey anyone else? Why should I
not live as I like? Must I obey? If I disobey, may I
The notion of Negative
Freedom
What is the area within which the subject should be
left to do what he is able to do, without interference
by other persons?
One is said to be free to the degree to which no man
interferes with ones activity.
Political Liberty, being unfree, and being coerced.
Coercion does not cover every form of inability.
Freedom is not unfettered.
Frontier between private life and public authority
What is freedom to those who cannot make use of it?
Negative Liberty contd.
Everyones concept of Freedom is different, but
there are some common freedoms which everyone
needs.
Liberal Morality.
To avoid glaring inequality or widespread misery, I
am ready to sacrifice some, or all, of my freedom.
Dichotomy between individual liberty, and the
liberty of a number of people.
Contrasting views of Locke and Hobbes.
Total self surrender, is self-defeating.
 Why was the protection of Individual Liberty so sacred to
Mill?
Civilization cannot advance, truth will not come to light,
no scope of spontaneity, originality, etc.
Society will be crushed by the weight of Collective
Mediocrity.
Criticism of Mill
Firstly, he confused two notions. States all coercion is
bad, and non-interference is good.
Secondly, the concept of non-coercion is new.
Thirdly, does not focus on Source of Control, but the area
of control.
Part III- The Retreat to the
Inner Citadel.
I must liberate myself from desires I know I
cannot realise.
I contract the frontiers in order to reduce the
vulnerable area.
I determine myself to desire what is attainable.
Retreat into my inner citadel which malice nor
blind force can touch.
I eliminate the obstacles in my path by
abandoning the path.
Freedom is obedience to a law which we
prescribe to ourselves.
 He is truly free, who desires what he can perform and
does what he desires Rousseau.
What I cannot be sure of, I cannot truly want.
Mills definition Ability to do what one wishes.
I need to extinguish my wishes, and then I am made free.
It is the antithesis of political freedom.
Part II- Positive Liberty

What, or who, is the source of control or

interference that can determine someone to do
this rather than that?
Wish of the individual to be his own master.
Dominant self, and self which is brought to heel.
Real self and empirical self.
Paradox of Positive freedom.
Part IV- Self Realisation

The only way to attain freedom, is to understand

what is contingent.
Laws are to be rational. The only reason people
would follow irrational laws is because they
didnt understand it themselves.
Positive doctrine of liberation by reason.