John Stuart Mill, Berlin, And Sartre - 2059 Words

Name Professor Course Date Positive and Negative Freedom: According to Augustine, Mill, Berlin, and Sartre As one of the most important concepts in philosophy, freedom always attracted the attention of the thinkers. Such outstanding philosophers as Saint Augustine, John Stuart Mill, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Isaiah Berlin provide valuable responses to the problem of freedom, which are still actual. For instance, Isaiah Berlin can be considered the true ideologist of dialectic of freedom, dividing this issue into positive and negative one. According to Isaiah Berlin, positive and negative freedom are closely connected with social and political development of human civilization. Precisely the way people evaluate and define their freedom influences political and social regime, which can develop in such society. Using the brilliant examples from the history of philosophical thought, Berlin provides the direct instances of negative and positive freedom existence. Each type of freedom premises a separate way of living, social structure, and role of individuality. Defining negative and positive freedom as almost absolutely different concepts, Berlin makes the emphasis that both determine personal activity. Negative freedom is freedom from other people interference. As the philosopher mentions, negative freedom answers the question â€Å"What is the area within which the subject – a person or group of persons – is or should be left to do or be what he is able to do or be, without