Final answer:
Rousseau distinguishes between natural liberty, the innate freedom outside societal control, and moral liberty, which is freedom within the laws of society. Negative liberty is freedom from external constraints, while positive liberty is the capacity for self-determination. Rousseau's concepts contribute to understanding the role of governments in protecting individual freedoms and managing social contracts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jean-Jacques Rousseau differentiates between natural liberty and moral liberty. Natural liberty is concerned with the freedom inherent to human beings in their natural state, free from societal constraints. Moral liberty, on the other hand, is the liberty within the bounds of civil society and is tied to the willingness to adhere to laws that serve the general will and common good.
These concepts can be compared to the distinction between positive and negative liberty. Negative liberty describes the freedom from external restraints, such as government interference. It suggests that individuals have a right to act without obstruction by others. In contrast, positive liberty refers to the capacity to be one's own master and to participate in the decisions that affect one's life, such as democratic governance. This form of liberty demands a certain amount of positive assistance from society or the state.
Rousseau's ideas influenced the broader discussion on liberty, contributing to the social contract tradition, which emphasizes a government based on serving the general will and ensuring the alignment of laws with the interests of the community.