When, if ever, do you think that the government in a liberal society is permitted to restrict the freedom and liberty of its citizens? If you can, identify at least two practical (moral) implications of your response for laws and public policy.

Answer 1

You do come up with the most complicated questions!

Generally, if the individual's action impinges on the rights of another, or of the community. Murder kind of impinges on the rights of the victim. Theft takes someone else's property. Selling poisonous "remedies" may imperil someone else's health. Pouring one's own filth into the common water supply may imperil the health of the entire community. Causing panic by yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater may imperil the other patrons.

Anything that causes harm to others may be restricted. Even revving your motorcycle at 3:00 AM may wake up the neighbors and may be illegal, if not merely very annoying to everyone within earshot.

Similarly, there is a debate currently about copying someone else's artistic work, as in movies or music or written work if that deprives the creator of legitimate profit from the sale of their work. We have copyright laws for that, but it's not settled law yet.

The principle is that if you or I do something that causes harm to others, it's illegal. Not that it offends someone, but actually causes harm.

Answer 2

http://www.humanium.org/en/fundamental-rights/freedom/restrictions/

http://eyler.freeservers.com/JeffPers/jefpco26.htm