Rights and Duties of Citizens, Essay Example

Based on readings of several authors related to modern civilization’s order the author of the current study argues that Kant provides the most comprehensive exploitations of rights and duties of citizens. Indeed, based on moral principles created, the author has grounded his theory based on universal rights and responsibilities of all people. While other authors, such as Sieyes and Rousseau focus on the distribution of power in the modern state, as well as inequality, Kant goes further by defining the universal moral law that applies to every citizen, formulating their actions in relation with their entitlements and responsibilities. Explaining universal human rights through morality and laws of action, Kant creates a foundation for universal ethical principles that led to the development of modern, democratic liberal societies. The reason why the above text was selected as the most significant work on modern western civilization’s values will be explained in detail below, comparing Kant’s work with other authors’ writings.

One of the main statements of Kant’s work “Metaphysics of Morals” is that “citizens should always be regarded as co-legislative members of the state” (Kant, 40). This universal principle of liberal democracy is the foundation of today’s modern states. As Doyle (206) explains liberal democracy, it “is a belief in the importance of moral freedom, of the right to be treated and a duty to treat others as ethical subjects, and not as objects or means only”. This statement rings familiar, when looking at the work of Kant, who explains the rights of people to be treated with respect. Indeed, while Kant does not focus on property and voting rights on an individual level, his moral explanation provides a guidance for citizens of the modern state. The responsibilities of citizens, on the other hand, are also defined by moral principles at Kant. Instead of providing exact rules and restrictions to actions, Kant’s philosophy focuses on the obligation to treat others with respect and act morally.

In Sieyes’ work, we can see that the focus is mainly on the distribution of power, the role of the government, and the obligation of citizens to comply with rules. Rules are supposed to be universal according to the author, as well, however, he focuses on the usefulness of each individual. While defining the rights of the nation as a whole Sieyes does not conclude the universal equality of citizens that is present in Kant’s work. On the other hand, Sade focuses on the restrictive functions of morality and the state, while saying that citizens need to obey their inner ethical judgment, instead of looking at guidance from the state and religion that has previously failed humanity. While describing individuals’ moral responsibilities, and duties for himself.

Rousseau’s work, the “Social Contract”, however, focuses on the roles of different classes based on the state composition. Describing natural freedom of people, he gets close to the same topic as Kant: universality, but does not expand on it enough. Rights of citizens, according to the author are defined by the social contract, while Kant states that they are of moral nature, and universal. According to Rousseau, the main determinant of social and political order is public opinion (Rousseau, 28), based on customs. The author neglects the importance of respect and moral principles. Therefore, it is evident that Kant’s explanation of the relationship between the state and citizens is more thorough and detailed than the works revealed above.

One of the main liberal ideas in Kant’s work is that the law of moral judgment applies to everyone, and there are no exceptions. This law is the foundation of liberal democracies built upon equal legal and political representation. Duties are based on general moral rules. As Kant (42) states, “the vanquished state and its subjects cannot forfeit civil freedom”. With the above statement, Kant goes beyond national borders, and expands human rights to the entire population of the Earth. This forward-thinking thought is one of the main strengths of Kant’s philosophy. Kant’s recognition of every person’s right to life, his emphasis on the freedom of choice, within the boundaries of morality is bringing forward the level of fairness that is embraced by modern democracies, such as the United States.

In recent centuries, several justifications of Kant’s universal rights and responsibilities of respect towards other human beings have been manifested. Some of the examples can be evident, such as the Declaration of Independence, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The ethics of duty might be problematic and unclear, but it includes some of the guiding principles that democratic and liberal states are built upon today. As Perreau-Saussine (2) concludes the philosophy behind Kant’s moral principles related to rights and responsibilities, “at the core of this metaphysics of morals lies a recognition of human freedom: freedom must be presupposed or “postulated” by practical reason”. This statement does not only highlight the rights of individuals, but also the duties of citizens. Based on Kant’s moral metaphysics, respect of other human beings is every person’s duty, not only towards the person, but also the state. This defines the main guidelines for the relationship between the civil society and the modern liberal democracy. In Section III, Kant also refers to the cosmopolitan rights of people, and therefore states that rights are universal, laid down in moral principles, instead of secured and provided by states themselves. Instead of war, Kant (52) proposes gradual reforms of states that are in line with “definite principles” of morality.

Based on the above review of readings and related literature analyzing Kant’s text, it is evident that instead of defining the right “world order” and social contract, like other authors, Kant focuses on principles of humanity’s universal rights and responsibilities that should guide state decisions, as well as individual ones. By defining maxims of morals that laws of humanity and states should be based on, and the principle of respect, Kant is considered to be the most humanistic thinker among all reviewed authors. Instead of focusing on individual restrictions and rights, he develops principles of acting right, for both citizens of the state, and leaders. The main thought of Kant, however, most relevant to modern liberal democracies is the universality of rights to life, freedom, and respect. This is what some of the most advanced constitutions and international principles are based on, therefore, Kant’s definition of citizens’ rights and responsibilities is the most relevant to the study of the development of democratic values and principles. The four feelings listed in the “Metaphysics of Morals” that guide actions are moral feelings, conscience, love for humans, and respect. These feelings are thought to define democratic values in present day, therefore, Kant’s work is the most relevant to modern western civilizations.

Works Cited

Doyle, Michael W. “Kant, liberal legacies, and foreign affairs.” Philosophy & Public Affairs (1983): 205-235.

Kant, Immanuel. Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, translated by James W. Ellington. 3rd edition. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1993.

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Rousseau:’The Social Contract’and Other Later Political Writings. Cambridge University Press, 1997.

De Sade, M., Seaver, R., & Wainhouse, A. (1990).Justine, Philosophy in the Bedroom and other Writings (p. 285). New York, NY: Grove Press.

Perreau-Saussine, Amanda. “Immanuel Kant on international law.” The Philosophy of International Law (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2010) (2010).

Sieyès, Comte Emmanuel Joseph, M. Blondel, and Samuel Edward Finer. What is the Third Estate?. London: Pall Mall Press, 1963.