Objectivism, Individual Freedom, and Democracy

5.1 Individual Freedom as a Philosophical Principle

Freedom, in the Objectivist sense, has a precise meaning: the absence of physical coercion. A person is free when no one is pointing a gun at them, metaphorically or literally—when no one is forcing them to act against their own judgment. This is negative freedom, or freedom from—as opposed to the muddled progressive concept of 'positive freedom,' which conflates freedom with the power or resources to act.

5.2 The Relationship Between Democracy and Individual Rights

Objectivism makes a crucial distinction that most political discourse ignores: democracy is a procedure, not a principle. Democracy is a method of selecting governments and making collective decisions. It is valuable because it provides a peaceful mechanism for  ...