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Negative and positive liberty and the freedom to choose in Isaiah Berlin and Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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  • Stefan Collignon

    (Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa; London School of Economics)

Abstract

Berlin has made the famous distinction between negative and positive liberty. For many liberals, negative liberty is modern individual liberty manifested in markets, while interference by the State is a form of positive liberty. Berlin was also repelled by Rousseau’s concept of the general will, which he considered as a form of collectivist holism. The paper argues that this philosophy is a mistaken interpretation of Berlin’s two concepts of liberty and of Rousseau’s general will. In a simple model of individual and collective choice under conditions of bounded rationality, it is shown that positive and negative liberty are interdependent. The collective choices made under positive liberty can be modeled as the stochastic version of Rousseau’s general will, provided that liberal democracy enables the conditions of free public deliberation. In that case, the individual freedom cherished by Berlin is compatible with positive liberty.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Collignon, 2018. "Negative and positive liberty and the freedom to choose in Isaiah Berlin and Jean-Jacques Rousseau," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 36-64, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bus:jphile:v:12:y:2018:i:1:n:2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Friedman, Milton, 2002. "Capitalism and Freedom," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226264202.
    2. Friedman, Milton, 2002. "Capitalism and Freedom," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226264219, Febrero.
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    Cited by:

    1. L Duhs, 2022. "‘Freedom’ on the Road to Ruin: An Australian Apology to America’s Freedom-Loving Hard Right," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 15(1), pages 124-157.
    2. L A Duhs, 2022. "‘Freedom’ on the Road to Ruin: An Australian Apology to America’s Freedom-Loving Hard Right," Post-Print hal-03701554, HAL.

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