Political Science · Class 11 Arts
Ch 12Freedom — Class 11 Political Science, concept-first.
Human history is full of examples of people and entire communities who were dominated, enslaved or exploited by more powerful groups — but it is equally full of extraordinary stories of resistance against that domination.
Key concepts
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The Ideal of Freedom
The 'ideal of freedom' refers to the value people and entire peoples place on being in control of their own lives, choices and destiny — an ideal so powerful that individuals have given up years of comfort, safety and ev…
Most relevant Q&A
- What is meant by freedom? Is there a relationship between freedom for the individual and freedom for the nation?Free
- Do only great men and women fight for great principles like freedom? What does this principle mean to me?Free
- Can you think of someone in your village, town or district who has struggled for his/her own freedom or the freedom of others? Write a short…Preview
Chapter contents
The NCERT structure, section by section. Open a section to see its questions, then read the concept-first solution.
Introduction
Human history is full of examples of people and entire communities who were dominated, enslaved or exploited by more powerful groups — but it is equally full of extraordinary stories of resistance aga…
The Ideal of Freedom
One of the twentieth century's greatest figures, Nelson Mandela, titled his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.
What is Freedom?
A simple answer to 'what is freedom' is that it is the absence of constraints: an individual is free if he or she is not subject to external controls or coercion and can make independent decisions and…
The Sources of Constraints
Restrictions on an individual's freedom can come from domination and external control. Such restrictions may be imposed by force, or through laws made by rulers backed by the power of the state — this…
Why Do We Need Constraints?
We cannot live in a world with no constraints at all — without some, society would descend into chaos.
Harm Principle
To decide which constraints are justified, we need to address the limits, the authority, and the consequences of any restriction — an issue John Stuart Mill addressed in his essay On Liberty through w…
Negative and Positive Liberty
The chapter has already touched on two distinct dimensions of freedom — freedom as the absence of external constraints, and freedom as the expansion of people's opportunities to express themselves and…
Freedom of Expression
One of the issues generally considered to belong to the minimum area of non-interference is freedom of expression. J.S.
Exercises
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- Q1What is meant by freedom? Is there a relationship between freedom for the individual and freedom for the nation?Free
- Q2What is the difference between the negative and positive conception of liberty?Free
- Q3What is meant by social constraints? Are constraints of any kind necessary for enjoying freedom?Preview
- Q4What is the role of the state in upholding freedom of its citizens?Preview
- Q5What is meant by freedom of expression? What in your view would be a reasonable restriction on this freedom? Give examples.Preview