Comparing Negative and Positive Liberty

Historical Perspectives on Liberty

Freedom has been interpreted in many forms throughout history. In Ancient Greece, people were viewed not as individuals but as members of a social group. Thus, Plato's Republic does not speak of personal freedoms but of groups (men of gold, silver, or bronze) that have different rights to the extent that they also have a different soul.

The Shift to Modern Individualism

Our modern conception of freedom is linked to personal autonomy and the demand for creative individuality. While ancient societies were dominated by a communitarian sense, modern societies developed individualism. To answer how freedom has acquired modern touches, we must refer to the classic distinction by Isaiah Berlin (1909-1997) between negative freedom and positive freedom.

Negative Freedom: The Power of Non-Interference

Negative freedom is the concept defended by Mill; it is understood as the power that ensures others do not interfere. Negative freedom is always "freedom from" something; it is the ability to act without hindrance from others or the state. The subject is free and responsible for his actions, possessing a private sphere that nobody can violate.

This negative concept of liberty does not focus much on what individuals can do with it, but rather on the resistance to everything that can inhibit it. In other words, negative freedom is shielded from attacks that the actions of others or the state may pose to the individual and his private environment.

Positive Freedom: State-Regulated Liberty

In contrast, positive freedom is a type of freedom that is restricted and regulated. It is typical of social structures in which the State awards a space of freedom to members of society. It is the State that determines what belongs to everyone; therefore, everyone has the freedom to do everything that the state grants.

It is a freedom given externally: it means being free to do what one may, not by invading the law, but by acting according to it. This distinction is significant. While negative liberty is characteristic of liberal societies, societies marked by positive freedom often have a socialist character, featuring a greater degree of state intervention within the private sphere of society.