Sure Shot Questions: Freedom | Political Science Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Introduction

The chapter "Freedom" from Class 11 Political Science explores the concept of liberty, distinguishing between negative and positive liberty, and its various types, such as natural, moral, civil, economic, political, national, and international liberty. It discusses the necessity of reasonable constraints, the Harm Principle, and safeguards for liberty, including democracy, rule of law, and an independent judiciary. By analysing previous year question papers, we’ve identified recurring question types and patterns that align with CBSE’s exam framework. Based on these trends and the syllabus’s emphasis, we’ve compiled a list of the most probable questions likely to appear in the upcoming exam. These predictions are rooted in the frequency and style of past questions, ensuring focused preparation. 

Key Questions

Q1: What is the difference between negative and positive liberty? 
Ans: Negative liberty refers to the absence of external constraints, allowing individuals to act freely without interference. Positive liberty involves creating socio-economic and political conditions for self-realization, accepting reasonable restrictions to ensure collective welfare.

Q2: Why are reasonable constraints necessary for freedom?
Ans: Reasonable constraints prevent chaos in a collective society, ensuring everyone’s freedom is protected. They regulate behavior to avoid harm to others, promoting a balanced environment for individual and societal development.

Q3: Define political liberty.
Ans: Political liberty refers to the right to participate in governance through voting, standing for elections, forming associations, and expressing opinions, ensuring equal say in decision-making regardless of social or economic status.

Q4: What is J.S. Mill’s Harm Principle?
Ans: J.S. Mill’s Harm Principle states that individual actions should not be restricted unless they harm others. Self-regarding actions (affecting only the individual) are free, but other-regarding actions (harming others) justify external intervention.

Q5: Explain the significance of freedom of expression in a democratic society.
Ans: Freedom of expression allows individuals to share ideas, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and societal progress. J.S. Mill argued that no idea is entirely false, and truth emerges through conflicting views, making expression essential for individual development and democratic functioning.

Q6: What is Swaraj, and how did Gandhi define it?
Ans: Swaraj, meaning self-rule, was a key concept in India’s freedom struggle. Gandhi defined it in Hind Swaraj as self-discipline and self-realization, emphasizing liberation from dehumanizing institutions and fostering self-respect and responsibility within communities.

Q7: Describe two safeguards for maintaining liberty in a society.
Ans:  

1. Independent Judiciary: Ensures protection of rights and prevents executive overreach through impartial justice.  
2. Rule of Law: Guarantees equal treatment under the law, preventing arbitrary restrictions and ensuring fair governance.

Q8: What is national freedom, and why is it important?
Ans: National freedom refers to a nation’s sovereignty and independence from foreign control, allowing self-governance. It is crucial as it enables cultural preservation, self-determination, and complements individual freedom, fostering national development and pride.

Q9: Discuss the positive and negative aspects of liberty, highlighting their implications for individuals and society.
Ans: Negative liberty emphasizes the absence of external constraints, allowing autonomy, as supported by J.S. Mill and Herbert Spencer, but risks chaos in collective settings. Positive liberty, advocated by T.H. Green and Laski, focuses on conditions for self-development, accepting reasonable restrictions. It ensures equitable opportunities but may justify state intervention. Together, they balance individual autonomy with societal order, fostering personal growth and stable communities, though excessive positive liberty risks authoritarianism.

Q10: Trace the historical development of the concept of freedom and its impact on society. 
Ans: Freedom evolved from struggles against domination, with early notions in the State of Nature (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau) emphasizing negative liberty (absence of restraints), often equating to “might is right.” Liberal thinkers like Mill focused on negative liberty, while Green and Laski developed positive liberty for self-development. Movements like India’s Swaraj (Gandhi) and South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle (Mandela) shaped freedom as self-rule and dignity. Positive liberty today fosters disciplined, responsible societies, strengthens nationalism, and promotes equitable development, requiring checks to prevent misuse.

Q11: Explain the types of liberty and their significance in a democratic society.
Ans: Types of liberty include:  

• Natural Liberty: Complete freedom in a pre-social state, impractical today.  
• Moral Liberty: Acting per conscience, vital for ethical growth.  
• Civil Liberty: Rights like freedom of speech, ensuring autonomy.  
• Economic Liberty: Access to work and wages, reducing inequality.  
• Political Liberty: Participation in governance, foundational to democracy.  
• National Liberty: Sovereignty, enabling self-determination.  
• International Liberty: Peaceful global relations, curbing militarism.

Significance: These liberties ensure individual development, democratic participation, and societal stability, fostering equality and justice.

Q12: Discuss the importance of reasonable restrictions with reference to the Indian Constitution.
Ans: The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a) but subjects it to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) for public order, morality, decency, and national security. These restrictions, issued by legitimate authorities with positive intentions, prevent misuse (e.g., hate speech) while ensuring a conducive environment for growth. For example, restrictions on speech inciting communal violence maintain harmony, balancing individual rights with collective welfare.

Q13: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: Freedom is said to exist when external constraints on the individual are absent. In terms of this definition, an individual could be considered free if he/she is not subject to external controls or coercion and is able to make independent decisions and act in an autonomous way. However, absence of constraints is only one dimension of freedom. Freedom is also about expanding the ability of people to freely express themselves and develop their potential.
(i) What is the negative aspect of freedom described in the passage?
(ii) How does the passage define the positive aspect of freedom?
(iii) Why is freedom important according to the passage?
Ans:
(i) The negative aspect of freedom is the absence of external constraints, allowing independent decisions and autonomous actions.
(ii) The positive aspect of freedom involves expanding people’s ability to express themselves and develop their potential, creating conditions for creativity and growth.
(iii) Freedom is important as it enables self-expression and potential development, fostering personal and societal growth.

Q14: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: However, as freedom is at the core of human society and is so crucial for a dignified human life, it should only be constrained in special circumstances. The harm caused must be serious. For more harm, Mill recommends only social disapproval and not the force of law. For example, playing loud music in an apartment building should bring only social disapproval from other residents.
(i) When should freedom be constrained according to the passage?
(ii) What does J.S. Mill suggest for addressing minor harms?
(iii) What example of minor harm is given, and how should it be handled?
Ans:
(i) Freedom should be constrained only in special circumstances when the harm caused is serious.
(ii) J.S. Mill suggests addressing minor harms through social disapproval rather than legal enforcement.
(iii) Playing loud music in an apartment building is a minor harm, handled by residents expressing disapproval, such as refusing to greet the offender, rather than involving the police.

Q15: Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Passage: Positive liberty recognizes that one can be free only in society and hence tries to make that society such that it enables the development of the individual, whereas negative liberty is only concerned with the inviolable area of non-interference and not with conditions in society. Generally, they both go together and support each other, but tyrants may justify their rule by invoking arguments of positive liberty.
(i) How does positive liberty differ from negative liberty?
(ii) What is a potential misuse of positive liberty mentioned in the passage?
(iii) How do negative and positive liberty generally relate to each other?
Ans:
(i) Positive liberty focuses on creating a society that enables individual development, while negative liberty emphasizes non-interference, unconcerned with broader societal conditions.
(ii) Tyrants may misuse positive liberty to justify their rule, claiming it fosters societal development while suppressing freedoms.
(iii) Negative and positive liberty generally complement and support each other, balancing autonomy with societal conditions for growth.

Important Topics

• Negative vs. Positive Liberty: Absence of constraints vs. conditions for self-realization.
• Types of Liberty: Natural, moral, civil, economic, political, national, international.
• Safeguards of Liberty: Democracy, rule of law, independent judiciary, free press, political education.
• Constraints and Harm Principle: Need for reasonable restrictions, J.S. Mill’s justification for intervention.
• Freedom of Expression: Importance and justification by J.S. Mill.
• Historical Context: Struggles for freedom (Gandhi, Mandela), Swaraj, apartheid.
• Indian Constitution: Reasonable restrictions under Article 19.

Preparation Tips

• Memorise Definitions: Learn negative/positive liberty, Swaraj, and Harm Principle.
• Understand Types of Liberty: Create a table summarizing the seven types with examples.
• Focus on Safeguards: List and revise the 12 safeguards, emphasizing democracy and rule of law.
• Practice Passage-Based Questions: Solve passages to improve comprehension and analytical skills.
• Study Historical Examples: Note Gandhi, Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi’s contributions.
• Revise Constitutional Provisions: Focus on Article 19’s freedom of expression and restrictions.