What is freedom? What are the different types of freedom?
What is freedom? What are the different types of freedom?
Definition and types of freedom.
Different types of freedom.
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Concept / definition of freedom:-
Liberty, equality and fraternity, which emerged from the French Revolution, are considered as great ideals. In a sense, freedom is the end of all kinds of obstacles. However, freedom is never free, it has some limitations.
Regarding the definition of freedom, Lasky says - freedom is an environment where the full development of the individual is possible. This external environment is created by the state authorities.
On the other hand, Hegel says, obeying the law is freedom.
Barker says, state freedom or legal freedom is conditional freedom for all.
Marxists, however, have a different opinion about freedom. According to them, freedom is the opportunity for the full development of human personality and for this, all kinds of economic exploitation and inequality need to be ended.
Different forms of freedom / different types of freedom:-
1. Personal Freedom:-
The concept of Personal freedom was born in Athens, ancient Greece. They understood personal freedom as the absence of any control over a person's external behavior. In ancient Greece, the current concept of freedom developed through this concept of personal freedom.
2. National Freedom or Community Freedom:-
For the ancient Greeks, national freedom and community freedom were synonymous. Professor Burns said - the basis for the development of all kinds of freedom is national freedom. National freedom is the absence of control by external enemies and without national freedom, the existence of personal freedom also becomes meaningless.
3. Natural Freedom:-
The proponent of the theory of natural freedom is Rousseau. In the pre-social and pre-political era, people enjoyed complete freedom. No restrictions were imposed on people. This freedom of people can be called natural freedom. But the main complaint against the theory of natural freedom is - free and uncontrolled freedom makes people arbitrary.
4. Social freedom: -
The freedom that is protected according to social customs, norms, customs, etc. is social freedom. This type of freedom is guided by morals and social conscience. But the issue of social freedom is relative. Because the freedom that is built on the basis of customs and norms has sometimes become inhuman - such as the sati system that was once prevalent in India, the slavery system that was prevalent in ancient Greece - etc.
5. Moral freedom: -
Moral freedom is protected and guided by morals and moral consciousness. Idealistic state thinkers are the main proponents of moral freedom. Moral freedom considers the morals of the individual as the criterion for enjoying freedom.
6. Legal freedom: -
Currently, legal freedom exists in all state systems. This type of freedom is recognized by law and constitution. Some political scientists also consider legal freedom to be controlled by law and constitution. Because, in a state system, total freedom is synonymous with tyranny; therefore, it is necessary to impose legal control on the free movement of people. Although political scientists do not agree on the types of legal freedom, legal freedom can be mainly divided into three categories. For example -
(a). Personal freedom or civil freedom: -
Personal freedom or civil freedom are those independent rights by which an individual can achieve the full development of his personality. The main among these rights are - the right to private property, religious rights, freedom of speech and expression of opinion, the right to move and live freely, the right to assemble, professional rights - etc. In every democratic state system, these rights are recognized by law and the constitution.
(b) Political freedom: -
Democracy is meaningless without political freedom. Political freedoms give people the opportunity to participate in the state system. The main political rights are - the right to be elected, the right to participate in elections, the right to criticize government activities, the right to take government jobs, etc. Political rights of people are recognized in every democratic state.
(c). Economic freedom: -
Political scientists like Lasky believe that all other types of freedom are meaningless except economic freedom. Marxists have also attached special importance to economic freedom. In this context, Barker rightly said that a worker who is subordinated in the economic field can never be free in the political field. The main rights included in economic freedom are - the right to participate in work according to ability, the right to be taken care of by the state for the disabled, the right to receive fair remuneration, the right to financial security in old age, the right to freedom from all forms of exploitation - etc.
Finally, it can be said that among the different types of freedom discussed above, the issue of economic freedom is the most controversial and discussed. Because, in a state system where economic control is vested in the hands of a handful of capitalists, the people cannot properly enjoy any freedom. Only a change in the ownership system and a change in the ownership of productivity can establish economic freedom. However, political scientists do not agree on this issue.
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