There is a very subtle difference between these two terms, even though they are used interchangeably. While there is so much of literature on internet about this difference, most of them are in the context of USA, or are very large and not up-to the point, or donot use clear examples.
This article will focus to address the above issues.
First lets start with what a simple google search for the definition says:
1. Freedom
the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants.
2. Liberty
the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behaviour, or political views.
If you look at both of these definitions they seem to be almost the same, but there is a very subtle difference between these two if you observe carefully. Okay, let me clarify first with example(s):
Consider a person in a jail, he doesn't have freedom but if the jail authorities feel he is well natured, he can be given liberty. i.e even though he is not allowed to go outside the jail, he can do what ever he wants within the premises of jail. Also there is one more condition, he will have to adhere to rules of jail whenever he is at his liberty.
So if you observe, liberty is freedom with set of rules(i.e. someone is interfering here). Rules are there so that you don't destroy or interfere in other person's liberty.
Consider another example: India got freedom from British. This mean India can take its decisions without interference from any other country. Here freedom for example can mean: India can stop trading with any country and no other country has a say in this.
But Indians on the other hand have liberty. i.e. they are free to do anything but by following some laws and rules of the land. Lets say a trader doesn't want to trade with any particular person, she/he has liberty to do that. But if the trader doesn't want to trade with a particular person because he belongs to a particular caste, then this is violation of law and the trader doesn't have liberty to do so.
Another example: India gives liberty to every person to pursue any political ideology, but forbids the same person to follow any terrorist ideology. You don't have to fear to praise a party which is in opposition. Praising or criticising is your liberty.
So in essence liberty is a limited form of freedom. Liberty is there to protect the liberty of other person. Also with liberty only, we can contribute to the advancement of mankind.
Summary
- Freedom means to act, speak or think without any external interference.
- Liberty means freedom but with some external interference. But external interference only means there should be a sound reason to do so, i.e. it cannot be arbitrary.
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