Examine the relation between authority and liberty.

Authority and liberty:

(i) Modern society is sharply divided on the conception and interpretation of the term liberty and its relation with the sovereign authority of the state. Those who believe that liberty is freedom of doing what one likes whether that has social approval or not are of the opinion that liberty lies in the absence of sovereign authority. They hold the view that authority imposes restrictions which many a time are unwanted and undesirable.

(ii) On the contrary there are persons who believe in the very basic idea that liberty and authority must go hand in hand. The former view that liberty is absence of sovereign authority is very much condemned because it is argued that authority not only guarantees liberty but also provides equal opportunities for all for expressing what is best in an individual. It is, therefore generally felt that basically it is wrong to believe that liberty of individual and authority of state are contradictory to each other but on the other hand, absolutely necessary and essential for one another.

But there is a note of caution as well which is absolutely essential. Both liberty and authority must remain within their boundaries. As soon as one crosses the limitations one is bound to destroy the purpose for which it was being established. Excess of liberty will destroy authority whereas concentration of authority shall positively end liberty.