Right and Responsibilities of Citizens and the Modern Western Civilization
Jean-Jacques Rousseau is arguably one of the most inspiring philosophers in his time who development thoughts on classical philosophy. Rousseau argued on the intricate relationship between the state and the individual. He observed that the state as an entity wields a lot of power than an individual. Because of this authority, the state has the ability to force, command and direct an individual to perform certain duties and responsibilities. The state can determine the type of life that an individual should live as well as the things that an individual can do or avoid. The entrenchment of the state in western civilization was to ensure guard the freedom that individuals exercise. Rousseau observed that am should be allows to exercise his freedom (Oelkers 13). The state (ruler) and the citizens have fundamental rights and responsibilities according to Rousseau. He argued that the relationship between the state and the citizens cannot merely be pegged on the former’s application of coercion, threats and fear to subdue the latter.
Rousseau opined that the state should respect the rights of its citizens while observing the duties and responsibilities bestowed on them in the exercise of freedom. One of his works, A Treatise on the Social Contract, Rousseau attacks people who believe that the strong people or entities should rule over the weaker ones. He added that such powers and beliefs amount to coercion. The weaker ones would feel subdued for the reason that their power is limited. The smallest social unit (family) is made in a way that the parents act as rulers. They give directions and opinions that their followers are expected to conform to. But this exercise of authority should not be in a manner that hinders the will and freedom of the followers. The social contract between the ruler and the subordinate should be harmonious to avoid any friction that may result into disharmony. Rousseau argued that the state of disharmony between the state and the individual is not a necessary condition for freedom (Oelkers 17). Thus, the citizens of the state have a moral duty to carry out their responsibilities to enhance mutual relationship with the state.
Rousseau argued in respect of modern western civilization in which leaders enter a social contract with citizens. This social contract encompasses fundamental obligations which the leaders promise to fulfill upon assumption of office. On the other hand, the citizens, while exercising their freedom, should commit to assisting the state to fulfill these obligations. An example that illustrates the social contract between the citizens and the state is when people of a country pay taxes (Spielvogen 7). The state collects the taxes and uses them to honor the pledges that it made to the people. In such a case, the relationship between these two entities is supported by certain responsibilities that commit them to each other.
Rousseau further observed that the state has a moral obligation to create conditions that allow the citizens to fully exercise their freedom. He opined that the state should enhance human freedom which he classified as comprising natural freedom, civil freedom and moral freedom. Rousseau posited that prior to civilization, man was good in his natural state. However, the advent of civilization made man to undergo significant reorganization that has created a divide between man and his society. The philosopher added that civilization has destroyed good, natural man and replaced him with a corrupted individual at the whims of his society (Oelkers 20). In his natural state, man could act with the ferocity of an animal. This state made man to be good because he did not succumb to the vices of the modern political society.
Rousseau argued that the rise of civilization and the growth of social interdependence has played a significant role in the well-being of people. Although man is equipped with outward freedom in his natural state, he is not absolutely free. Rousseau observed that this man can only be free is he unleashes his moral being. He posited that the moral being is a product of compliance to certain norms and laws. Such compliance to laws constitutes man’s civil freedom. In this regard, the introduction of the justice system in the modern western civilization was tailored to meet this fundamental aspect of man’s freedom (Spielvogen 11). The modern justice system punishes deviant behavior which people exhibit from time to time while carrying out duties and responsibilities. Thus, the state must organize some moral order on the basis of the laws and norms that guides the conduct of people.
Rousseau argued that every person has a right to participate in a political process in an equal measure as any other citizen. In this regard, the state is created to ensure that it look into issues of common good. Every state is under obligation to guarantee this right to its citizens. Without this function, the state is deemed inconceivable. This claim lends credence to the French revolution and the emergence of western civilization.
In conclusion, this study has revealed the centrality of Rousseau’s philosophical thought in understanding the link between the rights and responsibilities of the citizens to Modern Western Civilization. Rousseau was an active proponent of human freedom. The study reveals that western civilization encompassed the creation of the state and the initiation of laws to maintain order in the society. Because of this structure, the citizens were required to abide by the laws in order to become civilly free.
Works Cited
Oelkers, Jürgen. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014. Print.
Spielvogel, Jackson. Western civilization. Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.
