What is the difference between the negative and positive conception of liberty?

Negative liberty

Positive liberty

1.

It defines and defends the area of an individual’s life where no external authority can interfere.

i.

It defines the area of society where an individual can be free with some constraints made by the society and the government.

2.

It is not concerned with the conditions of the society.

ii.

It is concerned with the enabling conditions of the society.

3.

It is concerned with explaining the idea of ‘freedom from’.

iii.

It is concerned with explaining the idea of ‘freedom to’.

4.

This area comes into personal domain of the individual.

iv.

This area comes into social domain of the individual.

5.

More negative liberty leads to more freedom.

v.

More positive liberty checks excess of freedom to an individual, which could be an obstruction for social stability.