Isaiah Berlin – Two Concepts of Liberty and a Psychological Perspective
Isaiah Berlin’s classic distinction between negative and positive liberty provides a clear framework to understand an individual’s experience of freedom as an artist. Negative liberty refers to freedom from external constraints — the individual is free when able to act without interference or coercion. Positive liberty, in contrast, relates to the capacity to be the author of one’s own life, to make choices that reflect personal will and identity.
From a psychological perspective, considered as one of contemporary philosophical modes of thought, this distinction helps explain why formal freedom does not always translate into lived experience. Internal inhibitions, fears, or dependencies can limit decision-making capacity and creative action, even when external obstacles are absent.
References:
Berlin, Isaiah. Two Concepts of Liberty. Oxford University Press, 1969.
filosofia.fi – Berlin
Diary dialogue
Negative liberty: “I move and act freely, yet I still feel an internal barrier.”
Positive liberty: “I want to do things in my own way, but I question whether my choices are genuinely mine.”
Schelling and Fichte – Radical Freedom and Autonomous Agency
Friedrich Schelling and Johann Gottlieb Fichte approach freedom radically, emphasizing the individual’s capacity to make choices independently of external circumstances or deterministic influences.
Schelling highlights the importance of internal freedom and will, while Fichte introduces the concept of a “freedom bubble,” in which the individual maintains autonomy relative to societal norms and expectations.
From a psychological standpoint, this can be seen as a state where self-awareness and inner resources intersect with external constraints. Psychology, as a contemporary philosophical framework, provides concepts to grasp the depth of experience: how an individual perceives freedom and agency within the limits and possibilities imposed by the environment.
References:
Schelling, Friedrich. Philosophical Inquiries into the Essence of Human Freedom. 1809.
Fichte, Johann Gottlieb. Foundations of Natural Right. 1796.
Diary dialogue
Radical freedom: “I feel a moment of complete freedom, yet the environment constantly guides me.”
Agency: “Autonomy is a continuous balancing act between my personal will and external expectations.”
Joseph Raz – Freedom, Autonomy, and the Role of Environment
Joseph Raz links freedom with autonomy, defining it as the capacity to make independent, meaningful, and rational choices. Raz emphasizes that true freedom also requires environmental support: choices must be practically possible in order for autonomy to be exercised.
From a psychological perspective, understood as a contemporary philosophical framework, this suggests that an individual’s experience of freedom depends on both personal will and the conditions provided by the environment. One may feel free yet simultaneously notice limitations imposed by circumstances. This paradox is central to a deeper understanding of freedom.
References:
Raz, Joseph. The Morality of Freedom. Oxford University Press, 1986.
academic.oup.com – Raz
SpringerLink – Creativity and Freedom
Diary dialogue
Autonomy: “I feel free, but my environment determines how much I can truly choose.”
Freedom and conditions: “Real freedom is an ongoing interaction between my own will and the surrounding context