What are the 5 principles of freedom?

Freedom is one of the most quintessential elements of a free and fair democratic society. It is a value that has helped shape western civilization into the behemoth it is today. Seeing as it is a value that plays such a crucial role in society, it is important we know what the main principles of freedom are.

The 5 main principles of freedom are: freedom of speech, individual freedom, economic freedom, personal responsibility, and rule of law. All 5 principles play a crucial role in ensuring freedom is protected and nurtured within a given society.

Photo by Miltiadis Fragkidis on Unsplash

Freedom of speech

The first main principle of freedom is freedom of speech. Free speech is regularly named the first freedom, as it is a principle that is paramount to society as a whole. Freedom of speech means that the individual can express their opinions without any fear of punishment from the state. Freedom of speech is an essential value of western civilisation and is crucial for many reasons.

Freedom of speech is the fundamental mechanism human beings have for challenging existing ideas, creating new ideas, and determining truth. It allows individuals to organise their thoughts and views of the world. It sparks public discourse, which is an essential element of a healthy democracy. All these factors lead to the betterment of society overtime. This is because of the fact that when ideas are freely debated amongst the population, only the best and most beneficial ideas survive. This is what is meant by stating free speech is the fundamental way humans can determine truth.

There is no value as important as freedom of speech, which is why it is essential that the state upholds it at all cost. Once the state starts censoring speech, freedom of speech ceases to exist. This is how tyranny and totalitarianism thrive. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that a free and fair democratic society prioritises freedom of speech. Free speech is one of the main principles of freedom.

Individual freedom

The second principle of freedom is individual freedom. Individual freedom means that the individual is prioritised over the wider collective. The individual has freedom of expression, freedom of opportunity, and freedom of choice. It means that the individual is liberated from any oppression or coercion from the state. They are free to live life on their own terms and be in control of their own destiny. This has many fundamental benefits.

Individual freedom is paramount to a free and fair democratic society. This is because for a society to truly be free, the individual must be free. The state cannot intervene in the daily affairs of the individual. There is plenty of data that shows societies that prioritise individual freedom are almost always better off than societies which restrict the rights of their citizens. The individual will always have a better idea of how to live their own lives than the state. This is why individual freedom is so powerful. It gives the individual more power, rights and freedom. This leads to a more prosperous society in the long run.

Thus, individual freedom is another crucial principle of freedom. It protects the individual from any oppression or coercion from the state. It gives the individual more power, rights and freedom. This, in turn, leads to a more prosperous society in the long run, as societies that prioritise individual freedom are much better off.

Economic freedom

The third principle of freedom is economic freedom. Economic freedom puts an emphasis on the free market, decentralisation, de-regulation and capitalism. Economic freedom is a crucial pillar of a free and fair democratic society. This is because it is a system that is operated by the people, not the state. There are many benefits that flow from economic freedom.

Economic freedom allows for private ownership, investment and innovation. All three of these things are fundamental to building a strong economy and therefore a prosperous society. Private ownership is important for making sure the state intervenes as little as possible in business affairs. This is beneficial as it means consumers ultimately have the say in which businesses and industries flourish. It spawns competition and leads to improved goods and services which again benefits the consumer. Investment is important for society to build its wealth and help businesses and industries flourish. Private ownership, competition and investment lead to innovation. Innovation impacts society in many beneficial ways. It creates wealth and helps improve the lives of everyday citizens.

Thus, economic freedom is a fundamental principle of freedom. It is important for a strong and robust economy which ultimately positively impacts the lives of each and every citizen. It spawns competition, investment and innovation which all directly benefit the consumer.

Personal responsibility

The fourth principle of freedom is personal responsibility. Freedom has many benefits, but there is a caveat. With great freedom comes great responsibility. This is because in a free society, it is the responsibility of the individual to support themselves, not the state. This has many benefits for society.

As mentioned above, in a free society, it is the responsibility of the individual to support themselves and make their own life choices. Each individual has to make the best choices that best fulfil their needs. For example, the individual can choose whether to study or not, what job or career they choose, who or if they marry, where they live and much more. It is the individual’s responsibility to make the decisions that best impact their lives. This is very beneficial to the individual and society as a whole. This is because personal responsibility creates citizens who are highly capable. The more capable the citizens, the better off society as a whole will be. Personal responsibility leads to a society that is more productive, more charitable and more prosperous.

Thus, personal responsibility is another main principle of freedom. With great freedom comes great responsibility. It is up to the individual to make the decisions that best impact their lives. This leads to a more competent population and therefore a more prosperous society.

Rule of law

The fifth principle of freedom is rule of law. Rule of law is the principle that upholds all the previous mentioned principles and freedom itself. Rule of law ensures that freedom is implemented properly within a given society. It means that all the previous principles of freedom mentioned are protected under the law. It also allows for the correct functioning of a free and fair democratic society.

Rule of law helps protect freedom by restricting the control and power of bureaucrats. This is crucial as a free society can only be maintained if the state does not intervene in the daily lives of its citizens. Rule of law protects us from any arbitrary uses of power such as despotism, absolutism, authoritarianism and totalitarianism. This is paramount to upholding freedom and protecting society from the evil forces of tyranny. It ensures that the democratic process runs smoothly and that elected officials serve those who got them there. The importance of the rule of law cannot be emphasised strongly enough. Without it, freedom would very soon cease to exist. It is absolutely essential that a society prioritises and upholds rule of law.

Thus, the rule of law is an essential principle of freedom. It is the principle that upholds all other principles and protects society from any outside intervention or arbitrary uses of power. Freedom must be protected at all costs, and rule of law ensures just that.

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Summary

Freedom of speech is the most important freedom of them all. Free speech is the fundamental mechanism humans have to organise our thoughts, express our opinions, and determine truth. Free speech leads to a healthy, free and fair democratic society.

Individual freedom is another key principle of freedom. It stresses the inherent value of the individual. It gives the individual more power, rights and freedom. It liberates the individual from any oppression or coercion by the state. It is a fundamental element of a free and fair democratic society.

Economic freedom is a vital principle of freedom. Economic freedom prioritises the free market. This leads to more competition, investment, and innovation. This directly benefits the consumer, leads to a more robust economy, and ultimately makes society more prosperous as a whole.

Personal responsibility is another principle of freedom. With great freedom comes great responsibility. It is the responsibility of the individual to support themselves and make the decisions that best benefit their lives. This leads to a more competent population and therefore a more prosperous society in the long run.

Rule of law is an essential principle of freedom. It is the principle that upholds all other principles. It protects society from any outside intervention or arbitrary uses of power. It limits the amount of power and control bureaucrats have and gives more power and rights to the individual. Rule of law is paramount to ensuring a free and fair democratic society.

Why is freedom to express yourself important?

Freedom to express yourself has been one of the main pillars of Western civilization for centuries. It is a term that is used constantly in political dialogue all around the globe. Seeing that it is such a common term, and such an important value, I decided to write this post so you know exactly why freedom to express yourself is important.

Freedom to express yourself is important in ensuring your rights as an individual are protected from any intervention by the state. It means you have freedom of speech, freedom to protest, freedom of expression and are free from any state imposed oppression. This allows the individual and society as a whole to flourish.

Freedom of Speech

Freedom to express yourself naturally includes freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is the freedom that decrees the individual is inherently free to articulate their ideas and speak without any fear of censorship or intervention from the state. This is a crucial aspect of freedom of expression and the main reason for why freedom to express yourself is so important.

Freedom of speech is more than just another freedom. It is the fundamental mechanism humans have to organise their thoughts, articulate themselves and have their pre-existing ideas and notions challenged. It is right at the heart of expressing yourself, as without free speech, freedom of expression is non-existent. Freedom of speech is the fundamental right that has allowed humanity to progress as far as it has. It is the value that has been at the centre of Western civilization, and the main building block that has allowed the West to be so prosperous, throughout the last couple of centuries.

Freedom of speech is how new ideas come into fruition. It is how harmful ideas eventually become extinct. Freedom of speech ensures all ideas are challenged, and ensures that overtime only the most beneficial ideas become dominant. Freedom of speech is the only tool oppressed people have to spark change and challenge their oppressors. It is how society has progressed both socially and economically. It is the reason discrimination is becoming less common and why people are becoming more socially tolerant. It paves the way for diversity in all forms: Thought, ideas and people. It is for these reasons why freedom to express yourself is so important. If one does not have the freedom to express oneself, then they will never grow. They will continue to be oppressed and will have no viable option to make their lives better. Freedom of speech makes the lives of every citizen better off, which in turn makes society as a whole continually expand and become more prosperous.

Individualism in Regards to Freedom of Expression

At the heart of freedom of expression is individualism. An Individualistic society is one that focuses on the priorities of the individual rather than the wider collective. A society that focuses more on individualism is almost always going to give the individual more freedoms and rights. This is important, as freedom of expression and individualism go hand in hand.

Individualism inherently upholds the right of the individual to freedom and self realisation. This is crucial, as humans are biologically predisposed to be free and explore their own identities. Individualism ensures the importance of the individual is put before anything else. This is why freedom to express yourself is so important, without this freedom the individual is worthless. Without freedom of expression you are merely just a puppet of the state, which is not only detrimental to the individual’s well being, but the well being of society as a whole. When the individual feels heard, respected and is free to live life on their own terms, then that will manifest itself in society as a whole. A population of individuals who are free to express themselves as they wish is a population that is valued, happy, healthy and prosperous.

There are direct correlations with the amount of freedom the society gives the individual and the overall success of that society. Societies that value freedom of expression and individualism always are better off economically, better educated, healthier, happier and more prosperous. If you want to learn more about the value of freedom, click here.

Freedom of Expression in Regards to Diversity

Diversity has been a common buzzword thrown around in society and today’s political landscape. The best and most effective way to achieve true diversity is through the freedom to express yourself. This is because when we as individuals are free to express ourselves, we inherently also become free to explore ourselves and the wider world. This in turn creates an environment where each individual is unique in a plethora of ways. To link this back to individualism, what this means is not only is everyone unique, they are also all valued as individuals with no one being put on pedestal or anyone being held down. This is true diversity. Only freedom to express oneself can achieve this.

Freedom of expression also increases societies social tolerance over time. It is how African Americans have been able to break out of slavery, then secure their fundamental rights as citizens of the USA through the Black Civil Rights Movement. It is how society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community over time, and allowed these people to truly express themselves to the world with no fear of discrimination. It is how women have secured the right to vote, torn down outdated societal norms and established themselves as just as deserving of every opportunity as a man. Without freedom of expression, none of this would have been possible. It is the only way true and long lasting diversity is achieved. True diversity is essential to maintaining a prosperous and progressive society that is always improving and striving to do greater things.

Summary

The main factor of freedom of expression is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is the most crucial aspect of allowing an individual to express themselves fully without any fear of the state intervening. Freedom of speech is what has allowed society to progress as far as it has over the last couple of centuries. It is the only tool the oppressed have to challenge the status quo and create real change.

Freedom of expression is inherently tied to individualism. This is important as in an individualistic society the individual is always deemed more important than the wider collective. This in turn gives the individual the freedom and power to express themselves as they wish. This is of the utmost importance as it means the individuals can become the protagonist of their own lives which in turn makes society more prosperous in the long run.

Freedom of expression is the only way to achieve true and long lasting diversity. When individuals are free to express themselves and are all equal before the law, that is true diversity. Diversity is a crucial aspect that allows society to use the thoughts, ideas and expertise of everyone to make society more prosperous and progressive.

What is the value of freedom?

Freedom has been one of the most wide spread, popular and talked about political topics for centuries. It has been and will always be a prominent component of political discussion. Seeing as it is such a popular idea, it got me thinking: What is the value of freedom?

The value of freedom is that it gives more power to the individual. The individual is liberated from any form of coercion or oppression from the government. The individual is therefore free to live their life on their own terms and as they wish. This leads to a more prosperous society in the long run.

Freedom in Regards to Human Progress

Freedom is the most important ingredient in regards to creating a wealthy, prosperous, healthy, educated, philanthropic and diverse society. Freedom gives more power and personal liberty to the individual, allowing for the individual to live life on their own terms. Freedom creates the perfect environment for individuals to grow and improve. This in turn benefits society as a whole, as the majority of the population is constantly and consistently becoming more productive, knowledgeable and self-sufficient.

The reason the individual takes to freedom so well is because the idea in itself is deeply embedded in human nature. Human development inherently requires the expansion of human choices, which is why the concept of freedom is paramount to human progress. There is a direct correlation between freedom and the prosperity of society as a whole. It helps lower mortality rates, increases life expectancy and increases literacy rates (all over time). Economically speaking, freedom increases productivity and reduces problems such as unjust economic distribution and increases the income per capita. All these factors help to further human progress.

Overtime, as a society becomes more free, we can expect to see higher rates of human prosperity. The graph displayed below is from the 2022 Index of Economic Freedom. It measures the overall GDP per capita of a country in regards to its level of freedom (measured by The Index of Economic Freedom).

This graph clearly shows how freedom and human prosperity are significantly correlated. The more free the society is, the more prosperous it will be. It shows how freedom adds immense value to a society as it is responsible for majorly increasing the GDP per capita.

The Bar graph above gives another visual representation on the value of freedom. Societies that are deemed more free can expect to see a vastly higher GDP per capita than societies that restrict freedoms.

Freedom and Democracy

Freedom and democracy are directly tied together. You can’t have true freedom without democracy, and you can’t have true democracy without freedom. A free, fair democracy is paramount to human prosperity. One of the main values of freedom is that it brings with it the fruits of a free and fair democratic society.

Democracy is an important political structure as it ensures the individual has the freedom to be heard and the ability to contribute to their society. Democracy directly reflects the values, beliefs and ideologies of the people of which it serves. A free society is one where there is a diversity of viewpoints, beliefs, values and ideologies. These all contribute to that society’s democracy and ensure all peoples voices are heard. The individual is free to choose which ideologies resonate with them the most, and then use that information to vote for who they think is the best representative for them.

The most important link between democracy and freedom is that there must be a system that is used to maintain freedom and personal liberty within a society. That system is democracy. Freedom has to be absolute, and therefore has to be protected at all cost. Democracy does the best job at this. A system by the people and for the people. Democracy inherently reduces the risk of tyranny and extreme authoritarianism within a society. This in turn protects freedom and personal liberty.

Freedom and Personal Responsibility

An amazing value freedom produces is the importance of personal responsibility. Freedom liberates the individual from the shackles of the government and gives more power to the individual. With less reliance on the state, however, it means that the individual is in charge of their own livelihoods. This is where personal responsibility comes in. Freedom means that the individual is responsible for the choices they make throughout their lives. They are responsible for their own success, and likewise, responsible for their own failures. Personal responsibility can seem like a scary idea to some, but it is an attribute that contributes significantly to human progress, prosperity and social/economic expansion. It forces the individual to grow, be held accountable and make the best choices they possibly can to ensure they are financially secure and live a good life.

This is the paradox of freedom and why it is such a good long term strategy, at ensuring human progress. A free society gives you freedom of choice, but you also must be aware of the consequences of those decisions. This is why freedom comes with great responsibility. It is this responsibility which really benefits society as a whole. The more responsible and conscientious the individuals of a society are, the more well off that society will be.

Summary

The value of freedom is that it gives more power to the individual. The individual is liberated from any forms of coercion or oppression from the government. The individual is therefore free to live their life on their own terms and as they wish. This leads to a more prosperous society in the long run.

Freedom is the main factor in regards to human progress. There is a direct correlation between personal freedom and human prosperity. The more free a society is, the more productive its economy will be and the better educated the people will be. This leads to more prosperity, better health outcomes, better life expectancy and a better standard of living.

Freedom and democracy go hand in hand. Freedom brings with it the benefit of a free and fair democratic society. Democracy allows for freedom of its people to be protected from any tyranny. This is a crucial component in ensuring freedom is absolute and the individual is protected from any forms of corruption.

Freedom brings with it the value of personal responsibility. In a free society, the individual bears more responsibility as they are held accountable and have to pay attention to the outcomes of potential decisions. Personal responsibility is an important trait in bettering the individual and adding value to society as a whole.