I've heard it the exact opposite. Freedom to is positive freedom which tends to be a more social leftist or social liberal trait. Negative freedom (freedom from) is typically a more modern right wing or libertarian trait. But also you could have libertarian leftists or anarchists that lean more towards negative liberty, as well as fiscal conservatives that lean more towards positive liberty on social issues, so it's not fully a left/right thing.

Basically the difference is enabling people via common social framework that gives people options and social mobility vs complete non-interference by government or any other entity even if it limits options and social mobility for anyone but yourself due to their life circumstances.

Here's a quote from the Wikipedia article on positive liberty that backs up this interpretation of the to/from distinction. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_liberty):

"Erich Fromm sees the distinction between the two types of freedom emerging alongside humanity's evolution away from the instinctual activity that characterizes lower animal forms. This aspect of freedom, he argues, "is here used not in its positive sense of freedom to but in its negative sense of 'freedom from', namely freedom from instinctual determination of his actions."

I don't know that I agree with that premise but it's an example of the to/from dichotomy being used in relation to positive/negative freedom just so you know I'm not making anything up.

[–] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 20 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Strange take.

In Europe, most want "freedom from". As in, freedom from hate speech, freedom from Nazis, freedom from gun owning cowards, freedom from bullying, freedom from corruption

Free speech is as outdated as handguns, if you want a peaceful life and happiness

Guess that's where all your problems are coming from 🤷

[–] Sloogs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I didn't invent that take if you think it's strange. Ironically these interpretations of liberty originally came from European philosophers, originally Rousseau I think, so take it up with them. 🤷🏻

I don't think they were thinking about in terms of freedom from hate but more like creating social structures that enable freedoms and try to balance out everyone's rights, like the right to exist, in the face of something like hate vs eliminating any social structures and cutting out any middle man that would not allow someone to hate whichever thing and whoever they want to.

[–] Hugh_Jeggs@lemm.ee 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

originally came from European philosophers,

Yep, hundreds of years out of date

Times change, as do philosophies

[–] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm pretty sure people everywhere want "freedom to" have a house, buy groceries and receive good healthcare, which are the most practical forms of positive freedoms in politics.

[–] Sop@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

That means that everyone has access to those means. Many liberals and most conservatives do not support providing free housing, healthcare and groceries to people who don’t work. That’s why it’s a leftist take.

[–] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I don't disagree, my point is that people in this thread have got positive and negative freedoms and rights mixed up

[–] Sop@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 8 months ago

Ah okay. I thought you were saying that those takes aren’t political because everyone wants it. (Which is obviously not true).

As far as I understand in Marxism freedom is understood as having all the means necessary to make decisions over your own live, like education, housing and healthcare. So ‘freedom to’ would be used in the context of having freedom to choose your own path.

Freedom to have a house is in that sense sounds to me like an example of the capitalist definition of freedom from restrictions, because the freedom to have a house means freedom from land ownership laws that currently prevent most people from owning the land they live on (or claiming land for their own that isn’t in use if they’re houseless)

[–] prex@aussie.zone 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Free speech (& freedom of association) are super important to a lot (most?) of us.

Unfortunately some people abuse this right, making the argument that they should be free to remove others freedom.

The paradox of tolerance is a highly recommended read written by the same guy who made falsifiabilty the cornerstone of the scientific method.