September 21, 2020

What is Liberty?

19 minutes

What is Liberty? Liberty is characterized by the unimpeded freedom to make choices without external force or threats of violence, aligning closely with the concept of free will. It is a fundamental objective for libertarians, who advocate for individual self-governance, asserting that people are best positioned to make decisions for their own lives. However, this doesn’t imply a lawless society; laws and consequences still exist to address actions like murder, theft, or fraud that infringe upon others' freedom. In a society defined by liberty, individuals are not just subjects to these laws but active participants in shaping them, ensuring that the rules reflect a collective agreement and respect for each person’s freedom to choose.

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What is Liberty?

Liberty is the freedom to choose to do or not do a thing without interference from outside forces.

The less outside interference in a decision, the freer we are.

The most common form of interference being threats of violence or force if the wrong choice is made.

Liberty is often associated with the idea of free will, which is defined by Wikipedia as "the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded."

So What is the difference between Freedom vs. Liberty?

They are often considered synonyms that mean the same thing. Let's look at the definitions of the words thanks to Wikipedia:

Freedom:

Freedom, generally, is having the ability to act or change without constraint. In philosophical discourse, freedom is discussed in the context of free will and self-determination, balanced by moral responsibility. (Wikipedia)

Liberty:

Broadly speaking, liberty is the ability to do as one pleases. It is a synonym for the word freedom.

In modern politics, liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behaviour, or political views.

Sometimes liberty is differentiated from freedom by using the word "freedom" primarily, if not exclusively, to mean the ability to do as one wills and what one has the power to do; and using the word "liberty" to mean the absence of arbitrary restraints, taking into account the rights of all involved.

In this sense, the exercise of liberty is subject to capability and limited by the rights of others. Thus liberty entails the responsible use of freedom under the rule of law without depriving anyone else of their freedom.

Freedom is more broad in that it represents a total lack of restraint or the unrestrained ability to fulfill one's desires. For example, a person can have the freedom to murder, but not have the liberty to murder, as the latter example deprives others of their right not to be harmed. Liberty can be taken away as a form of punishment. In many countries, people can be deprived of their liberty if they are convicted of criminal acts.

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By We Are Libertarians

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