Final answer:
Freedom is the capacity to act without external impositions, which involves owning property, making personal choices, and engaging in relationships without coercion. It is layered with the necessity of balancing personal liberties with societal responsibility. Understanding justice involves recognizing the significance of laws and fairness in the context of societal norms and the accountability of individuals for their actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The value of freedom is the ability to act without restriction from rules imposed by others. This concept is key in understanding justice, as it relates to a person's rights and responsibilities within society. Freedom allows individuals to produce, trade goods, and services according to their own judgment, free from the coercion of others, including the government. It also entails owning and disposing of private property, engaging in voluntary contractual relationships, and making personal life decisions without undue external influence.
To understand freedom further, we can look at Isaiah Berlin's distinction between negative and positive liberty. Negative liberty refers to the absence of coercion by others, particularly in terms of government control, while positive liberty pertains to an individual's desire to self-direct. A balance between liberty and responsibility is mandatory; otherwise, the unrestrained exercise of freedom may lead to license, where a person's actions may harm society or infringe upon the rights of others.
Justice, thus, is found in the establishment and adherence to societal laws and standards, ensuring that individuals are punished fairly for transgressions. However, freedom also dictates that individuals are deemed responsible for their actions, following the Principle of Alternative Possibilities (PAP), which underlines the necessity for one to have the actual power to do otherwise.