Positive liberty is a concept of liberty that emphasizes the ability of individuals to act in their own interest and to achieve their own goals. It is the possession of the power and resources to act in the context of the structural limitations of the broader society which impacts a persons life. Positive liberty is 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 means freedom with few restrictions imposed by the government or society. Positive liberty is more related to the idea of freedom to.
In contrast, negative liberty is the absence of obstacles, barriers, or constraints. It defines and defends the area of an individuals life where no external authority can interfere. Negative liberty is concerned with the idea of freedom from. More negative liberty leads to more freedom, while more positive liberty checks excess of freedom to an individual, which could be an obstruction for social stability.
The difference between positive and negative liberty is that positive liberty means freedom with certain restraints from society/government, while negative liberty means freedom with zero external interference. Positive liberty is more concerned with the social behavior of an individual, while negative liberty is more concerned with those areas or domains of an individuals life that should not be violated.
