Difference between revisions of "What Is Liberty?"

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A good model of a liberty should be consistent with observations from law, economics, and anthropology. If it is based on observation, we can call it a positive model, like other models in the sciences. (But not necessarily philosophy.)
 
A good model of a liberty should be consistent with observations from law, economics, and anthropology. If it is based on observation, we can call it a positive model, like other models in the sciences. (But not necessarily philosophy.)
  
A person (P) is free to do or be a thing (T), to achieve a goal (G), using an ability (A), with a resource (R), when all others (O) do not interfere, despite opportunity costs (C), because of reason (B).
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A person (P) is free to do or be a thing (T), to achieve a goal (G), using an ability (A), with a resource (R), creating externalities (E), when all others (O) do not interfere, despite opportunity costs (C), because of reason (B).
  
 
This is not as complex a model as it could be, but suffices to capture most of of the ideas of liberty.  For example:
 
This is not as complex a model as it could be, but suffices to capture most of of the ideas of liberty.  For example:
  
Pete is free to Trampoline, to achieve a Goal of exercise, using his Ability to jump, with a trampoline as his Resource, when the Owners do not interfere, despite the opportunity Cost that they could use it themselves, Because Pete can bribe them with a rental fee.
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Pete is free to Trampoline, to achieve a Goal of exercise, using his Ability to jump, with a trampoline as his Resource, creating the externality of the trampoline being unavailable to others, when the Owners do not interfere, despite the opportunity Cost that they could use it themselves, Because Pete can bribe them with a rental fee.
  
 
Let's look at parts of this answer more closely.
 
Let's look at parts of this answer more closely.

Revision as of 00:40, 8 October 2019