Uniting in Responsibilities in a Culture of Rights

"The relationship between Rights and Duties has engaged the attention of philosophers since time immemorial. The question they raised has eternal significance. When do the needs of the community take precedence over the rights of the individual? How should the claims of the individual, on the basis of his or her inherent rights, be reconciled with the claims of the State, of the community and of other individuals, on the basis of shared community values and interests?

The concept of Human Duties and Responsibilities serves to balance the notions of freedom and responsibility. While rights relate more to freedom, duties and responsibilities are associated with responsibility. Responsibility, as a moral quality, serves as a natural, voluntary check on freedom. In any society, freedom can never be exercised without limits. Thus, the more freedom we enjoy, the greater the responsibility we bear towards others, a well as ourselves. We must move away from the freedom of indifference towards the freedom of involvement."