How Is Possible:A Study Of Negative Liberty By Isaiah Berlin

Whether in the 20 th century with intense political confrontation or the 21 st century with accelerated globalization,we are faced with the moral dilemma that whether the question of value orientation should be replaced by the answer provided by technical standards.Isaiah Berlin,the master of modern liberal thought,said no.In the face of "the most terrible twentieth century",Berlin condemned the evil influence of the Western tradition with its central character of monism on realpolitik and political thought.The consequences of totalitarianism,exemplified by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy,brought the political philosophy of "ancient wisdom" close to collapse.With the horrors of the Second World War,the modern world has become more chaotic and dangerous,and philosophers generally believe that "political philosophy is dead".English intellectuals were thinking of new ways to solve the political dilemma of the time.Berlin called for a revival of "moribund political philosophy" in response to "harrowing moral experiences," advocating that we need a more moderate and realistic political attitude rather than resorting to a clear set of philosophical principles or political programs to solve practical problems.There should not be an overriding political purpose or value in an organized society;human subjects have their own interests,needs,ideas and values.Although everyone’s goals may not be compatible,you can choose a life style with ultimate possibilities.People should focus on adjusting the boundaries of personal and social activities,focusing on their own basic expression and activities.Therefore,under the background of the irreducibility of multiple values,Berlin clearly put forward the theoretical of "two kinds of liberty" in order to answer the question of group rights.In particular,the worship of negative liberty has brought a new turn for the revival of liberalism.Negative liberty refers to liberty from coercion and free from intervention.The subject can act according to individual rights in the private sphere free from social intervention.The main function of the state is to ensure that the negative liberty is embodied to the greatest extent.In the contest between the individual and the powerful state power,respect for the negative liberty rights can ensure that the individual can get the maximum degree of self-protection,self-prevention and self-improvement.Therefore,this paper tries to study negative liberty from three aspects.The first part mainly combs the existing academic research on the internal tension of Berlin thought,examines the interpretation and orientation of the two kinds of liberty,and analyzes how pluralism defends the argument of liberalism.The second part tries to clarify the main content of negative liberty,the internal logic and other vague questions and doubts.Berlin believes that the utopian belief of thinkers in the Enlightenment rationality contributed to the terror crisis of modernity in the 20 th century.If we want to get rid of the extreme particularism,we should return to the British liberalism tradition to guard against the danger of "rational evil".The third part systematically discusses the core concept of negative liberty(liberty of choice)and questions its possibility and complexity in the theoretical dimension and specific context.Finally,it evaluates and analyzes many views of this academic phenomenon,and makes research.Time has passed and the world has changed.A deeper exploration of negative liberty can help us understand and reassess the history of that period.After all,as a witness to so many of the "incomparable horrors" of the "terrible 20 th century",Berlin sought to trace the classical ideas of the 18 th and 19 th centuries to anti-Enlightenment ideas and critical reflections on totalitarianism.This directly influenced the ideological direction of later academic circles,outlined the evolution course of liberty theory in the history of Western thought for Chinese readers,and inspired us to trace and examine "liberty" in the context of political philosophy and moral philosophy.It is helpful for us to understand and face the core dilemma of pluralistic conflicts in modern society,and provides a reference text for the study of contemporary Chinese political philosophy.