DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, CHANDIGARH

Freedom

REVISION NOTES CLASS-XI

1. Freedom is a liberty to do whatever a person likes to do or a positive power of

doing and enjoying the worth of work.
2. Freedom has the two aspects, i.e. positive and negative. Positive freedom refers
to those rights which do not reach any harm to others if enjoyed as well essential for
an individual's development. Negative freedom implies the absence of any restraints
on freedom.
3. Freedom is considered valuable because it allows us to make choices and to
exercise our judgement. It permits the exercise of the individual's powers of reason
and judgement.
4. Freedom can be classified as natural freedom, civil freedom, political freedom,
economic freedom, religious freedom, individual freedom, etc.
5. Restrictions on the freedom of individuals may come from domination and
external controls. Such restrictions may be imposed by force or they may be
imposed by a government through laws which embody the power of the rulers over
the people and which may have the backing of force.
6. The 'Harm Causes' must be 'serious'. For minor harm, Mill recommends only social
disapproval and not the force of low. For example the playing of loud music in an
apartment building should bring only social disapproval from the other residents of
the building. They should not involve the police.
7.The existence of the 'minimum area of non-interference that human nature and
human dignity need an area where the person can act unobstructed by others.
8. Various safeguards have been provided for freedom, i.e. democratic setup, equal
rights for all, economic security constitutional provisions, etc.
9. Freedom of expression require non-interference or should not be restricted
because it is a fundamental value to be possessed by the people.
10. Though, several times, the demands have been raised to ban books, films,
articles, journals, etc.
11. Banning is an easy solution for the short term to meet the immediate demand
but it is very harmful for long term prospects of freedom in a society because once
one begins to ban then one develops a habit of banning.
12. Constraints of different kind thus exist and we are subject to them in different
situations. while reflecting on such situations we need to realise that when
constraints are backed by organised social-religious or cultural-authority or by the
might of the state, they restrict our freedom in ways that are difficult to fight
against.
REVISION QUESTIONS CHAPTER – FREEDOM

Short Answers
1. Law is a condition of Liberty”. Comment
2. What is Freedom? Analyse its influence on the Indian
constitution.
3. What are self and other regarding actions?
4. Why do we need constraints to enjoy liberty?
5. What do you mean by “who governs me”?
6. Who is Aung San Suu Kyi? What is she fighting for and from
where?
7. Discuss the characteristics of liberty?
8. Mention two ways of safeguarding freedom?
Long Answers
1. Do a comparative study between Negative and Positive Liberty.
2. What is Freedom of expression? What in your view would be a
reasonable
restriction on this freedom? Give examples.
3. Discuss Political, Economic and Moral liberty?
4. Explain the relationship between Political and Economic liberty?
5. Discuss the Harm Principle of J S Mill in detail. (Draw a Flow
Chart to Elaborate.