The Research On Berlin's Negative Freedom

As the most prestigious liberal thinker in the twentieth century, Berlin has made the most classic interpretation of freedom. He puts forward the distinction between negative freedom and positive freedom, and defends negative liberty. This article purports to explore the logical tension and contradiction presented by Berlin's theory of freedom, and attempts to find out the reasons for which Berlin is tense. Berlin clearly differentiates both concepts of freedom, and attempts to clarify the original meaning of the word"freedom", moreover, he holds the view that the bottom line of negative freedom should be adhered to. Considering that monism of rationalism may lead to authoritarianism, he rejects various theories of positive freedom. In his view, even if positive liberty is not the direct basis of totalitarianism, it also provides a theoretical excuse for totalitarianism. Negative liberty is not only worth defending, but also is upset because we live in a multi-value world. Confronting the continuing conflicting values, we had no choice but to choose for ourselves. The fundamental reason for which the values of human are diverse and incommensurable is that the nature of human in not solid. In Berlin's view, it is not the inherent nature on which human bases to choose, on the contrary, it is the constant choosing when confronting diverse self-conflicting values in living practices that shapes its nature.But the tension of Berlin's thesis is also significant: Berlin sticks to negative freedom while he criticizes rationality critically. Then how can an irrational autonomous subject realize the value option in pluralistic social values? If the values are pluralistic and freedom is just a kind of them, then how negative freedom takes priority? Berlin's tension for the thesis of freedom shows his reflection on and identity with modernity as well as the prudent stance of both criticism and sympathy for the Enlightenment Theory. Perhaps for Berlin, a person's choosing ability depends on our specific life experience and it has nothing to do with abstract rationalism. Berlin's thesis of freedom doesn't embody elaborate theory construction, what it embodies is realistic common senses and outlook on life. Maybe the best advice Berlin gives to us is the first priority in the process of building political and promoting legal system is the specific life experience rather than the construction of theoretical system.