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Philosophy 4
Philosophy 4
FREEDOM
Is a social and political concept which has great significance in how people
participate in society.
In a political and social context means the liberty of an individual from
oppression, compulsion, or coercion from other person, an authoritative
figure or from society itself.
Political Freedom consists of two types of liberties:
Positive liberty refers to a person taking control of his or her own life and
fulfilling one’s potential.
Negative liberty is freedom from external restraint, barriers and other
interferences from other people.
Different Political Ideologies influenced by human liberty:
Liberalism upholds the preservation of individual rights and stresses the
role of the government in protecting these civil liberties.
Libertarianism believes that the individual, not the government, is the best
judge in upholding and exercising rights.
Socialism considers freedom as the freedom to acquire economic resources
and the ability to work and act according to one’s desires.
Freedom entails the recognition of certain rights and entitlements of
persons.
Natural rights refer to rights which are innate in the person such as the
right to life.
Legal rights are rights that are based on society’s customs and laws that are
enacted by legislation and enforced by a government. The enjoyment of
these rights is based on citizenship.
Human agency- refers to the capacity of person to act and exert control
over his or her behavior.