Western Idea of Liberty

Western countries are believed to be the first to adopt the form of social life providing the individuals with the right to liberty and equality . They believed that rest of the world will follow this system of social life because it was rational . Liberty at that time was a right to possession of property , where an individual can acquire and dispose off his property at his choice and will . An individual was at liberty to sell not only his property (movable or immovable) but he was free to sell his skills and talents . 

In many part of the world the concept of "the life of common " was emerging as the form of social life where an individual was required to be cooperative with the other , and everyone in the society was free to use the common land and the resources . In this form of social life the concept of liberty and equality was not required to be at the center stage . Many western philosophers criticized the idea of the life of common or cooperativeness , they believed that it is not rational to cooperate , where non cooperativeness could have immediate benefits . This was later known as the " theory of tragedy of commons " where individuals and free riders tend to act in a selfish way and took immediate benefits . 

This theory of tragedy of commons led to the privatization of property and providing the individuals with the right to liberty and equality . An individual with this conception of liberty was at choice to sell his talents and skills . Later in many parts of the world this concept was followed as it was believed to be rational and the only way where the society can get rid of free riders and can have the prosperous life.