Positive liberty is a concept in political philosophy that refers to the possession of the power and resources to act in the context of the structural limitations of the broader society which impacts a persons ability to act. It is the freedom to do something, or the ability to take control of ones life and realize ones fundamental purposes. Positive liberty is primarily concerned with the possession of sociological agency, and it is enhanced by the ability of citizens to participate in government and have their voices, interests, and concerns recognized and acted upon. Positive liberty is often attributed to collectivities or individuals considered primarily as members of given collectivities.
The idea of distinguishing between a negative and a positive sense of the term ‘liberty’ goes back at least to Kant, and was examined and defended in depth by Isaiah Berlin in the 1950s and ’60s. Negative liberty is the absence of obstacles, barriers, or constraints, and it is the idea that freedom means being able to do what you want, without any external obstacles. Negative liberty is usually attributed to individual agents.
The distinction between positive and negative freedom is significant in terms of the proper role of the state. The goal of negative freedom demands a limited role for the state, whereas positive freedom results in a larger role for the state. Isaiah Berlin notes that historically positive liberty has proven particularly susceptible to rhetorical abuse.
