NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Political Science - Freedom

Q1: What is meant by freedom? Is there a relationship between freedom for the individual and freedom for the nation?
Ans:
Freedom refers to do all those things which do not harm to others and, are essential for a person’s own development. There is a close relationship between the freedom for individual and for the nation because:

• If a nation is free, every individual of it, will be free to enhance their creativities and capabilities.
• Development of a nation depends on cooperation, creativity and capabilities of individuals, which can be exercised in the absence of external constraints.
• A free society enables all its members to develop their potentials with the minimum of social constraints
• Though, no society can be imagined without the absence of constraints but it is necessary to determine whether it is acceptable or justified.
• Social constraints are necessary to be examined through debates, discussions between individual and the society.

Q2: What is the difference between the negative and positive conception of liberty?
Ans:

Q3: What is meant by social constraints? Are constraints of any kind necessary for enjoying freedom?
Ans:
Social constraints refer to the restrictions imposed by the society whosoever is unauthorized for the same.
Necessity of constraints:

• There are various sections who demand a ban on films, books, articles, journals, etc.
• Though banning is an easy solution for the short term to meet the demand immediately, but it is very harmful for long term prospects due to development of this habit only.
• If we willingly accept restrictions to pursue our goals or ambitions our freedom is not limited. In any case if we are not coerced into accepting the conditions we cannot claim to be curtailed freedom.

Q4: What is the role of the state in upholding freedom of its citizens?
Ans:

• The state upholds the freedom of its citizens by providing certain rights to them.
• The state maintains 'justifiable constraints' or reasonable restrictions on people so that they cannot harm others and their freedom.
• It provides positive liberty to its citizens to enable them to expand their ability and talent.
• It defines and checks 'other regarding' actions of its people in order to maintain social stability.

Q5: What is meant by freedom of expression? What in your view would be a reasonable restriction on this freedom? Give examples.
Ans:

• Freedom of expression means the freedom to express one's views through speech, writing etc.
• It is considered to belong to the minimum area of 'non-interference', that is, negative liberty.
• According to the provisions of the Indian Constitution, this is a fundamental right.
• Society bears some inconvenience caused by freedom of speech to protect it from people who want to restrict it.
• Society cannot restrict people from expressing themselves freely whether it agrees with their views or not.
• A reasonable restriction of freedom of expression is one that allows society to function smoothly and curbs interference in privacy.
• These restrictions are reasonable as they are necessary to run the society smoothly.

Following are some reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech.

• Freedom of speech cannot interfere in someone's privacy. Employees of Royal household of England are constrained by contract from disclosing any inner affairs of the royal household.
• Another example of putting restriction on freedom of speech is of film censor board. Censor board of films ban some portion of film to prevent adverse effect on society or disturbance of peace