Liberty III

Question 1

describe the caricature of negative liberty

Answer 1

negative liberty is simplified to only include legal or physical obstacles to freedom & ignore psychological obstacles.

Question 2

describe the caricature for positive liberty

Answer 2

positive liberty leads to left totalitarianism in which individuals are ruled by the collective.

Question 3

what’s taylor’s critique on these caricatures?

Answer 3

taylor thinks these caricatures are in favor of negative liberty

Question 4

what’s taylor’s solution to solve this caricature misrepresentation problem?

Answer 4

taylor says:
lets think about positive liberty as an exercise concept (individuals are in control of their lives)

lets think about negative liberty as an opportunity concept (individuals have the opportunity to pursue their path)

Question 5

what’s the problem with taylor’s solution (the exercise concept, opportunity concept thingy)

Answer 5

negative liberty can incorporate both the opportunity concept and the exercise concept.

Question 6

why is negative liberty bad according to Charles Taylor???? (4)
AKA MAGINOT LINE !!

Answer 6

1. focuses on external obstacles to freedom, ignoring internal factors that may limit or constrain individual liberty.
2. can be used to justify harmful and oppressive practices, such as discrimination & saying I’m doing it because I’m free !
3. neglects the social and historical context in which individual freedom is exercised
4. encourages a hyper-individualistic view of society

Question 7

what’s the maginot line? charles taylor

Answer 7

a metaphor used by Charles Taylor to describe the negative effects of extreme negative liberty on society.

=> Negative liberty can lead to individuals isolating themselves (“creating a fortress” ) and becoming detached from others.

Question 8

What paradox does Hirschmann present in her essay?

Answer 8

if everything in our society is influenced by patriarchy, it’s hard to know what real freedom and agency look like for women.

Question 9

What does Hirschmann suggest as a solution to achieve true freedom for women? (2)

Answer 9

1) eliminate the patriarchy and restructure society.
2) expand negative liberty to protect the space around individual women.

Question 10

How does Hirschmann think our understanding of freedom is shaped?

Answer 10

social and historical context, which is often patriarchal.