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Single Idea 18652

[from 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' by Will Kymlicka, in 25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights ]

Full Idea

The Lockean camp defines freedom in terms of the exercise of our rights. Whether or not a restriction decreases our freedom depends on whether or not we had a right to do the restricted thing.

Gist of Idea

The Lockean view of freedom depends on whether you had a right to what is restricted

Source

Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 2.4.a.iii)

Book Reference

Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.138


A Reaction

My first instinct is to be sympathetic to this, since a detached and general notion of 'freedom' strikes me as suspect. He offers the rival 'Spenserian' view of freedom as just having the choice.