FREEDOM, Personal, the liberty of the individual to determine the course of his own actions, subject only to restrictions the same for all and as few and liberal as the public safety permits. It is characteristic of a social condition where the individual is the funda mental unit, rather than subordinate communi ties such as the family or the clan. Accord ingly, the gradual eclipse of the family by the individual characteristic of European social history has led to the removal of such ob structions to personal liberty as the Roman right of the father. The disappearance of slavery and of serfdom is likewise a natural consequence of the supersession in their role of political units of the household and the es tate by the individual. In the modern demo cratic state, personal liberty exists as a recog nition of the right of each individual, within limits, to do what he pleases without the con straint of his fellows to go where he pleases, to work at whatever trade he pleases and to own whatever property he can purchase. All these
rights are strictly limited in the case of minors, and even among adults, the welfare of the State has necessitated such restrictions as pun ishments, quarantines, special professional qualifications and taxes. In times of emergency the right of the State to dispose of even the lives of its constituent individuals for the com mon good is universally recognized. That the restriction on the individual by the State shall not be more oppressive than necessity demands is secured by various clauses in the constitu tions of the several nations of the world. In English-speaking countries, one of the most trusted weapons against the abuse of the powers of the State is a constitutional pro vision concerning writs of habeas corpse (q.v.).