It is crucial for us to understand this quote from the English Philosopher Jeremy Bentham who is regarded as the father of Utilitarianism: “All rights are made at the expence of liberty”.
Are there rights in a liberal society? Yes. Does this mean certain actions are thus restricted? Yes. Is therefore freedom curtailed? Yes.
Of course, every society is like this. Every society restricts the complete freedom for one to act however one chooses.
And these rights, or conversely, restrictions, are determined by that society’s conception of the good.
Criteria of Good & Bad depends on values of a society. In Islamic societies it is Objective morality based on unchanging God's laws.
In other modern societies it's subjective & ever-changing man-made laws based on imperfect human understanding & whims.
So in Islamic system, liberties of people are
curtailed by universal God's rules which are based on God's wisdom & equal for all; whereas in other systems, other humans (even if elected) who can never be totally impartial, have the power to curtail people's liberties. Which is better and more Just for humanity?
