Jun 8
What is John Rawls’ perspective about Liberty?
“Each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others.” ― John Rawls
In this article I will be sharing my views on the above quote by John Rawls.
What is Liberty?
Liberty is the freedom of choice that enables an individual to reach his/her highest potential. It could have multiple dimensions such as — Political Liberty, Economic Liberty and Religious Liberty.
According to John Rawls, every person must have equal freedom with regards to the basic aspects of life. Rawls emphasizes that each person must engage in activities without infringing upon the rights of others. This same philosophy has been incorporated into the Part III of the Indian Constitution as “Reasonable Restrictions.”
Importance of liberty and equal liberties for everyone
The true value of liberty can be understood when we observe the consequences of its absence. Let us look at some of the examples from across the world.
- Civil Liberty: The American Civil Rights movement led by Dr Martin Luther King highlighted the atrocities done by the white community. Discrimination on the basis of colour, ethnicity was deep rooted in the society.
- Religious Liberty: Amnesty International has recently reported about the Sri Lankan Muslims who face discrimination, harassment and violence in a Buddhist Majority nation.
- Political Liberty: Freedom House has given Myanmar a Global Freedom Score of 9/100. The Military Junta carried out a Coup in Feb 2021 and imprisoned the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi.
The above examples highlight the relevance and importance of John Rawls’ ideas of equal rights and liberty in the contemporary world. The freedom of choice is foundation for enabling individuals to achieve their highest potential.
