APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 9: JUSTICE AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
The idea of justice has changed from focusing on individual behavior to including a responsibility for society to provide certain things for individuals. Many young people today feel that society has an obligation to take care of them, but this feeling does not really connect to the idea of justice, nor does it mean these claims can be fulfilled in a free society.
Every rule that defines how a person should behave also creates rights for that person, as these rules set boundaries for individuals. When a person's rights are threatened, they can expect support from others, especially if a government is in place to help enforce the rules. However, these claims only hold true if directed at someone or an organization that can respond and has the duty to protect those rights. For example, a child has a right to be taken care of because parents have responsibilities toward them. Without someone specifically responsible for providing something, it is hard to claim a right to it. People cannot claim rights to safety in their homes or a successful career unless there is someone who is responsible for making sure those things happen.
The role of government gives individuals certain political rights. People can claim the government's services and have a say in what the government does, but they cannot expect the government to meet every individual need. Society acts more like a living organism rather than a strict organization.
The traditional civil rights mentioned in laws say that the government should act fairly with its power, but these rights do not require the government to guarantee specific results for individuals. Recently, new "social and economic rights" have emerged, suggesting everyone is entitled to certain benefits without saying who is responsible for providing them. Saying society should provide these benefits is not accurate because society cannot act or take on duties like individuals or organizations can.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights tried to combine old civil rights with new social rights, but it fails to clarify who needs to provide these new claims. This lack of clarity means courts cannot enforce these rights effectively. Rights that say everyone should have better working conditions or time off are often unrealistic and undermine the basic idea of rights, which should be about individual responsibilities.
A focus on organization in social philosophy complicates all of this because it ignores how individual actions and responsibilities create a better society. Depending on legal claims to guarantee social and economic benefits misses the point that true success comes from motivating individuals to help one another. The belief that simply declaring rights can lead to positive outcomes is not just naïve; it also threatens the essential ideas of rights that are necessary for a free society.
The idea of justice has changed from focusing on individual behavior to including a responsibility for society to provide certain things for individuals. Many young people today feel that society has an obligation to take care of them, but this feeling does not really connect to the idea of justice, nor does it mean these claims can be fulfilled in a free society.
Every rule that defines how a person should behave also creates rights for that person, as these rules set boundaries for individuals. When a person's rights are threatened, they can expect support from others, especially if a government is in place to help enforce the rules. However, these claims only hold true if directed at someone or an organization that can respond and has the duty to protect those rights. For example, a child has a right to be taken care of because parents have responsibilities toward them. Without someone specifically responsible for providing something, it is hard to claim a right to it. People cannot claim rights to safety in their homes or a successful career unless there is someone who is responsible for making sure those things happen.
The role of government gives individuals certain political rights. People can claim the government's services and have a say in what the government does, but they cannot expect the government to meet every individual need. Society acts more like a living organism rather than a strict organization.
The traditional civil rights mentioned in laws say that the government should act fairly with its power, but these rights do not require the government to guarantee specific results for individuals. Recently, new "social and economic rights" have emerged, suggesting everyone is entitled to certain benefits without saying who is responsible for providing them. Saying society should provide these benefits is not accurate because society cannot act or take on duties like individuals or organizations can.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights tried to combine old civil rights with new social rights, but it fails to clarify who needs to provide these new claims. This lack of clarity means courts cannot enforce these rights effectively. Rights that say everyone should have better working conditions or time off are often unrealistic and undermine the basic idea of rights, which should be about individual responsibilities.
A focus on organization in social philosophy complicates all of this because it ignores how individual actions and responsibilities create a better society. Depending on legal claims to guarantee social and economic benefits misses the point that true success comes from motivating individuals to help one another. The belief that simply declaring rights can lead to positive outcomes is not just naïve; it also threatens the essential ideas of rights that are necessary for a free society.