Two Concepts of Liberty and Connections with Founding Principles

Positive and Negative Liberty - based on an essay by Isaiah Berlin 1958

The video examines the two concepts of liberty, positive and negative  and the essential differences between them. Negative liberty is described as 'freedom from' mainly in terms of outside interference.  Positive freedom is signified as 'freedom to' mainly in terms of following one's own will. Further differences are explored as seeing negative freedom as natural right and positive freedom as entitlement. But these two aspects of freedom are nuanced terms: negative asserts a zone of non-interference from outside whilst positive freedom asserts the right to achieve one's goals regardless. 

Negative freedom and the Declaration of Independence.
The term negative freedom is embedded in the philosophy and wording of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson argued for the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - to be achieved without interference.  John Stuart Mills writing in  On Liberty develops these maxims to state that you can do what you want as long as you are not hurting anyone else.

Negative freedom and the First Amendment
The wording of the First Amendment is written in the language of negative freedom and was dsigned to protect people from the interference of government.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution


Positive Freedom and Achievement of Own Goals
This concept came under the spotlight particularly in the time of slave emancipation. People were free but free to do what? Positive freedom is closely aligned with resources such as money, land, health and education.

Roosevelt and the Four Freedoms Speech 1941
Roosevelt looked back to the founding principles to develop what could be viewed as the most important aspects within society. He outlined in greater detail what 'freedom' should mean for the American people. The first two items, freedom of speech and freedom of worship relate to negative freedom. Freedom from want and freedom from fear are positive terms but are entitlements rather than rights.

In real time and since the time of the founding principles, liberty has remained a complex ideology.