Freedom as Autonomy

Freedom = is doing what one wants

Autonomy=self-rule or self-law

Laws in a democratic state imply deliberate restrictions by the state of people choices about how they live their lives. Thus, implementing a formal and justified restriction on people’s freedom by the law. The constraints on freedom by the law is prompted by the coercive power of the state. Therefore, a question arises how can people live under law and yet still be free? It is thought the law promotes freedom but the law can restrict people’s freedom in the name of promoting their liberty.

Kant argued there is more to freedom than doing what you want, this ideology can be dangerous when the state claim they know what is rational more than the heteronomous self and thus offer an alternative to freedom. This philosophy is captured by Rousseau’s Social Contract (1762), where he asserts ‘people are forced to be free’ which is a paradox that exemplifies the dangers in such political rhetoric. 

To identify freedom with rationality should not allege that the same thing is rational for each person.

The link between the law and liberty is a complex web that often ignores the political philosophy of the actual lawmakers. It is clear, my freedom not to be murdered should be protected by the law even if the law was decided by a dictator. Rousseau noted, that the most important type of freedom consists in obedience of the law we give ourselves. It is a freedom achieved by citizens of a democracy, participation in making of the law, promoting people’s autonomy through the distribution of knowledge.