Two concepts of freedom

What defines individual freedom in a civilised society? Philosophers have argued over such questions for centuries. This free course, Two concepts of freedom, looks at a positive and a negative concept of freedom, asking you to think carefully about how freedom is restricted by our place in society and how it can vary from state to state.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Introducing the concept of freedom
• 1 Introducing the concept of freedom
• 2 The word ‘freedom’
• 2 The word ‘freedom’
• 3 Isaiah Berlin's ‘Two Concepts of Liberty’ (1958)
• 3 Isaiah Berlin's ‘Two Concepts of Liberty’ (1958)
• 3.1 Preamble
• 3.2 Negative freedom
• 3.3 Positive freedom
• 3.4 The misuse of the concept of positive liberty
• 3.5 The notion of a final solution
• 3.6 Berlin criticised: one concept of freedom?
• 4 Conclusion
• 4 Conclusion
• 4.1 Course summary
• 4.2 Further reading
• Acknowledgements