Positive Definition and 987 Threads

Positive liberty is the possession of the capacity to act upon one's free will, as opposed to negative liberty, which is freedom from external restraint on one's actions. A concept of positive liberty may also include freedom from internal constraints.The concepts of structure and agency are central to the concept of positive liberty because in order to be free, a person should be free from inhibitions of the social structure in carrying out their free will. Structurally, classism, sexism, ageism, ableism and racism can inhibit a person's freedom. As positive liberty is primarily concerned with the possession of sociological agency, it is enhanced by the ability of citizens to participate in government and have their voices, interests, and concerns recognized and acted upon.
Isaiah Berlin's essay "Two Concepts of Liberty" (1958) is typically acknowledged as the first to explicitly draw the distinction between positive and negative liberty.

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  1. C

    Exploring the Limit Points of {sin(n): n a Positive Integer}

    Homework Statement a)Determine at least three limit points for the set {sin(n): n a positive integer} b)How many limit points does the set {sin(n): n a positive integer} have? The Attempt at a Solution For a it seems that it wouldn't have a limit point because sin(n) would not converge to...
  2. J

    One-point compactification of space of matrices with positive trace

    one-point compactification of space of matrices with non-negative trace Hi I'm a physicist and my question is a bit text-bookey but it is also part of the proof that the universe had a beginning...so could I ask anyway...You got q which is a continuous function of a 3 by 3 matrix where if any...
  3. F

    What is the Proportion of Symmetric Matrices that have Positive Determinant?

    Homework Statement What proportion of 2x2 symmetric matrices with entries belonging to [0, 1] have a positive determinant? Homework Equations A^{T} = A If A = [[a, b], [c, d]] Then det(A) = ad - bc. But A is symmetric, so c = b. So det(A) = ad - b^2 So, in order for A to have a...
  4. Fredrik

    F is integrable if and only if its positive and negative parts are

    Homework Statement Problem 2.6.3. in "Foundations of modern analysis", by Avner Friedman. Let f be a measurable function. Prove that f is integrable if and only if f+ and f- are integrable, or if and only if |f| is integrable. Homework Equations Friedman defines "integrable" like this: An...
  5. C

    Inclusion-exclusion positive integers

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  6. P

    MHB How Can We Prove This Positive Real Number Inequality?

    Prove that for positive real numbers a,b (a+1/b+1)^(b+1) is greater than or equal to (a/b)^(b). The case in which a<b is easy to prove, but after trying to represent the inequality with an integral, I'm a bit stumped. Any ideas?
  7. K

    Show Hessian is positive definite

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  8. JK423

    When is a matrix positive semi-definite?

    Hello people, Im working on a project and this problem came up: I have a symmetric matrix whose elements are complex variables, and i know that this matrix is positive semi-definite. I have to derive a criterion for the matrix's elements, so that if it's satisfied by them then the matrix...
  9. D

    For which positive real numbers a does the series converge

    Homework Statement For which positive real numbers a does the series Ʃo→∞ a^log(n) converge. Here logarithms are to the base e Homework Equations Im afraid I'm not sure where to start, I'm not sure which topics would be applicable to this question. If someone could point...
  10. Y

    Protons in a positive magnetic field

    What would happen if I were to set up two extreamly powerful magnets one above each other. Say the strength of each magnet was about 30 tesla. If both the magnets were positive and repelled each other with extreme force, if protons were in the middle of this repelling field, could those protons...
  11. M

    Why do we take the positive answer?

    This is copied from Paul's online math notes There is one final topic that we need to touch on before leaving this section. As we noted back in the section on radicals even though √9=3 there are in fact two numbers that we can square to get 9. We can square both 3 and -3. The same will...
  12. N

    Showing that half-sum of positive roots is the sum of fundamental weights

    Homework Statement Let L be a simple compact Lie group, and \Delta_+ is the set of positive roots. I have previously shown that if \alpha\in\Delta_+ and \alpha_i is a simple root, then s_i\alpha\in \Delta_+ where s_i is the Weyl reflection associated with \alpha_i. Now, let \delta =...
  13. L

    Positive and neagtive charge carriers current

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  14. R

    Second derivative positive implikes midpoint convex

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  15. L

    All the ways to build positive definite matrices

    Often people asks how to obtain a positive definite matrix. I would like to make a list of all possible ways to generate positive definite matrices (I consider only square real matrices here). Please help me to complete it. Here M is any matrix, P any positive definite matrix and D any...
  16. K

    How to determine an infinitely dimensional matrix is positive definite

    I ran into an infinitely dimensional matrix and wanted to show it is positive definite. I think I cannot do so by checking the principal minors as for finitely dimensional matrices... Can someone let me know how to show its positive definiteness? Thanks a ton!
  17. N

    Assume f(0)=f'(0)=0, prove there exists a positive constant such that f(x)>o

    Homework Statement Assume that f is a differentiable function such that f(0)=f'(0)=0 and f''(0)>0. Argue that there exists a positive constant a>0 such that f(x)>0 for all x in the interval (0,a). Can anything be concluded about f(x) for negative x's? Homework Equations The...
  18. M

    Infinite series sum is positive

    I was trying to prove the following but couldn't succeed. Is there a systematic methods to prove that the following infinite sum is positive? (alternating series) sum from n = 0 to ∞ of ((-1)^{n}* x^{n+z}) / (n+z)! conditions x≥0 and z≥1 note: when x≤1, we can directly see that s_{n}-...
  19. Fredrik

    I want to understand positive operator valued measures in QM

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  20. E

    Rudin 1.21 Problem understanding proof of unique positive root to the

    Firstly, the set E is defined: "Let E be the set of all positive real numbers t such that tn<x." Later on the proof goes: "Assume yn>x. Put k=yn-x / nyn-1. Then 0 < k <y. If t ≥ y - k, we conclude that yn-tn ≤ yn-(y-k)n < knyn-1 = yn-x. Thus tn>x, and t is not a member of E. It follows...
  21. H

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  22. AGNuke

    Practical Organic Chemistry - Confirm positive test

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  23. S

    Basic Question: Positive and Negative Electrical Charge

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  24. T

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  25. J

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  26. L

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  27. T

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  28. S

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  29. H

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  30. D

    What is the difference between an 'increasing gradient' and a positive gradient?

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  31. P

    Multiply infinity by a positive number

    Homework Statement Prove that if limXn = +∞ and limYn>0 then limXnYn=+∞ The Attempt at a Solution limXnYn = limXnlimYn = (c)(+∞) where c is a positive real number I know in my head that a positive number multiplied by infinity is positive, but I am unsure how to prove this and we have...
  32. K

    Quotient Field of the Positive Rationals

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  33. T

    Positive vs. negative work in an elevator?

    Homework Statement You are moving into an apartment and take the elevator to the 6th floor. Does the force exerted on you by the elevator do positive or negative work when the elevator (a) goes up and (b) goes down? Explain your answers. Suppose your weight is 685N and that of your...
  34. jaketodd

    Overall, H2O More Negative Than Positive?

    There is a link to a picture below. It shows two Hydrogen atoms on the same side of an Oxygen atom (both on the lower half of the Oxygen atom). Because the distribution of Hydrogen in H2O is not symmetrical, does that mean that, on average, the H2O molecule is more negatively charged in its...
  35. G

    Calculus 2 - Infinite Series Question - Estimating Series with Positive Terms

    Homework Statement Consider the following convergent series. Then complete parts a throw d below. sum[k=1,inf] 5/k^7 a. Find an upper bound for the remainder in terms of n Homework Equations Estimating Series with Positive Terms Let f be a continuous, positive, decreasing...
  36. A

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  37. U

    Comp Sci Input Validation for only positive integers C++

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  38. T

    Negative and positive results when dealing with Newton's Laws

    I think it's a pretty simple question. Let's say we're talking about a moving elevator in which a person stands on a digital balance. The textbook tells me to treat the downward direction as positive, so the value of acceleration is 9.8 m/s^2 instead of -9.8m/s^2 I'm asked to find out the...
  39. T

    What does it mean vector in the positive dirction of the y-axis.

    Homework Statement If vector a is added to vector b = 7.4i + 7.7j, the result is a vector in the positive direction of the y axis, with a magnitude equal to that of vector b. What is the magnitude of vector a?Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution (Is the vector in the positive direction...
  40. U

    Proving there is no smallest positive number

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  41. W

    Leyden Jar - 2 bottles - 1 positive 1 negative?

    I never could get leyden jars to work. I'm trying to use a few 3 liter bottles I have here at home. I also have quite a few solar panels and other materials like aluminum foil and copper. I was thinking today that it seems it would be easier to have 2 bottles, 1 with a copper lead dipping...
  42. C

    Positive integers for k: finding limits

    Homework Statement find the positive integers k for which lim x->0 sin(sin(x))/x^kHomework Equations exists, and then find the value of the limit The Attempt at a Solution I did the first three k's k=0 lim x->0 sin(sin x))/x^0= 0 undefined k=1 lim x->0 sin(sinx))/x^1= 1 k=2 I might be...
  43. D

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    Homework Statement Two blocks attached by a string slide down a 17 incline. The lower block has a mass of 0.2 kg and a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.2. The upper block has a mass of 0.9 kg and a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.9. Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the...
  44. D

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    Homework Statement In a stage production of Peter Pan, the 63 kg actress playing Peter has to fly in vertically, and to be in time with the music, she must be lowered, starting from rest, a distance of 2.6 m in 2.2 s. Backstage, a smooth surface sloped at 58 supports a counterweight of...
  45. P

    How do you konw if dipole movement is negative or positive?

    Let's say you have 2 charges of magnitude 2C except 1 is + and the other -. They're separated by 2m. dipole moment=p=qL Which q do you plug in there?
  46. V

    Eigen Values of Positive Definite Matrix

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  47. S

    Find the magnitude and the angle that it makes with the positive x-axis?

    Homework Statement find the magnitude and the angle that it makes with the positive x-axis? http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/unledzmo.png/ Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution The answer that I have is F= 179.37 at an angle of 91 degrees. Am I right? I took F1...
  48. K

    Restrictions on Parameters for Oscillatory Solution in Restricted Domain

    Homework Statement For the oscillatory solution (+k2) solution, suppose x is restricted to 0\leqx\leqa by requiring \psi(x)=0 and \psi(a)=0, what are the restrictions on A,B and k? Homework Equations given \psi(x)=Acos(kx)+Bsin(kx) The Attempt at a Solution so, I pretty just...
  49. C

    Positive definite matrix bounded below

    Homework Statement Let A be a positive definite n\times n real matrix, b\in\mathbb{R}^n, and consider the quadratic polynomial Q(x)=\frac{1}{2}\langle{x, Ax\rangle}-\langle{b, x\rangle}. Show that Q is bounded below. 2. The attempt at a solution I have to come up with a constant m so that...
  50. D

    The angle that A makes with the positive x axis

    A=2i-10k give the angle that A makes with the positive x-axis ? do i need to make x axis=i and i go A.B/AxB ?
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