Democracy and democratic freedom from a philosophical perspective

by Dr. Abla XHAFERI

Abstract

The system of democracy and freedom has been the ideal of human society stretching from antiquity to the present day. The purpose of this paper is, through research, to reflect within the limits of an article the concepts and attitudes of philosophers and thinkers of different periods regarding these basic elements of social life. In Antiquity, Plato, Aristotle, and Pericles did not have the same attitude towards democracy and governance. Later philosophers like Hobbes and Locke did not conclude in favor of democracy. John Locke and many other philosophers also pointed out the danger that comes to the minority from the “dictatorship of the majority”. Montesquieu supported the position of governing the people through his representatives. Rousseau initiated the theory of sovereignty as the basic condition for the creation of the democratic state, while Carl Friedrich addressed the basic requirements of democracy. Democracy in itself means a certain form of leadership or government, which is carried out in the name and interest of the majority. Democracy guarantees and harmonizes the duties and rights of the individual with those of society. The system of democracy undergoes constant changes in response to the requirements of the time. But in a true democracy, no right of a majority can be absolute. Therefore, the rules of a fair democratic game must be respected and the minority must, in any case, be guaranteed equal rights and opportunities so that, in the future, through free voting, in principle, a majority can be formed. The system of Western democratic standards includes not only the formal declaration of the principle of people’s sovereignty but also the institutionalization of human rights and the creation of real conditions for the people’s wider and more effective participation in the running of their state. The experience of democratic life raises constant demands for the deepening of democracy, which involves very important problems. People’s relations with freedom have been and remain the subject of philosophical studies, about which different opinions have emerged. Spinoza did not accept the restriction of freedom of thought and speech. Loku divided it into natural freedom and freedom in society. For Montesquieu and Rousseau, freedom was the right to do everything lawfully. Kant linked the limits of freedom with the good of the general, while for Nicene, freedom is the will for the independence of unique thoughts on existence. Today’s freedom and human rights theories focus on inclusive participation in social life.

How to cite: Xhaferi, A. (2022). Democracy and democratic freedom from a philosophical perspective. Jus & Justicia, 16(1), 114–127.

https://doi.org/10.58944/olyp9596