Difference between revisions of "Political Freedom"

Revision as of 12:21, 23 June 2008

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Freedom is the capacity for self-determination or the expression of the personal or communal will.

What freedom is not

Freedom is not a legal right, nor is it a privilege. Legal rights are the legal barriers for the state from interfering in a person's life, however, these rights can often be suspended under some circumstances (such as war, terrorist attack, or natural disaster). Privilege is something that is normally practices only by a few persons, at the expense of others.

Freedom is a natural right.

Forms of freedom

Positive freedom

Freedom to (do something yourself)

• • freedom of speech
  • freedom of the press
  • freedom of religion
  • freedom of association
  • freedom of movement
  • freedom of thought

See also Category:Freedoms

Negative freedom

Freedom from (having something done against you)

• • freedom from discrimination
  • freedom from coercion
  • freedom to live without fear
  • freedom from physical violence

Sayings on freedom

• "Eλευθερος γ θανατος" (Freedom or Death!)
  —Cretan War cry.
• "Give me Liberty or give me Death!"
  —Patrick Henry
• "Political Freedom without economic equality is a pretense, a fraud, a lie; and the workers want no lying."
  —Mikhail Bakunin in The Red Association (1870)

Freedom in other languages