The Philosophical Role of the Citizen: More Than Just a Resident

Being a citizen is often understood in legal terms – a passport, a set of rights, and obligations to a particular State. However, from a philosophical perspective, the role of the citizen transcends mere legal status, demanding a deeper engagement with questions of justice, governance, and human flourishing. This article explores the rich history of how philosophers, particularly those whose works comprise the Great Books of the Western World, have conceived of the citizen's fundamental duty and relationship to the State, arguing that active, thoughtful participation is not merely a right, but a profound philosophical imperative.

Beyond Legalities: The Philosophical Citizen

The concept of the citizen is one of the most enduring and complex themes in philosophy. It invites us to consider what it truly means to be a member of a political community, what responsibilities that membership entails, and how our individual lives are intertwined with the collective good. Unlike a subject or a resident, the philosophical citizen is an active participant in shaping the destiny of their State, driven by a sense of duty rooted in reason and moral conviction. This journey through the annals of Western thought reveals that the State is not just an external authority, but an extension of our collective will and a framework for realizing our highest human potential.

Ancient Roots: The Citizen in the Polis

The earliest and arguably most profound explorations of the citizen's role emerge from ancient Greece, where the polis, or city-state, was the crucible of political thought.

Plato's Ideal and Aristotle's Practicality

  • Plato, in his seminal work The Republic, envisioned an ideal State where each citizen fulfilled a specific duty according to their natural aptitude, all harmonized under the wise rule of philosopher-kings. For Plato, the ultimate duty of the citizen was to contribute to the justice and stability of the State, thereby reflecting the cosmic order. Individual desires were to be sublimated for the greater good, leading to a perfectly balanced society.
  • Aristotle, a student of Plato, took a more pragmatic view. In Politics, he famously declared that "man is by nature a political animal" (zoon politikon), meaning that human beings are inherently inclined to live in a polis and participate in its affairs. For Aristotle, true citizenship involved active participation in the deliberation and administration of justice. The duty of a citizen was not merely obedience, but the capacity to rule and be ruled in turn, essential for achieving eudaimonia, or human flourishing, which could only be fully realized within the communal life of the State.

Key Ancient Perspectives on Citizen Duty:

  • Plato: To fulfill one's assigned role for the sake of the State's justice and harmony.
  • Aristotle: To actively participate in governing and deliberating, contributing to the common good and one's own flourishing.
  • Socrates (as depicted by Plato): To obey the laws of the State, even unto death, as a moral duty arising from the social contract.

(Image: A fresco depicting ancient Greek philosophers, perhaps Plato and Aristotle, engaged in dialogue in an agora, with citizens in the background listening or participating, symbolizing the intellectual and civic engagement of the polis.)

The Social Contract: Rights, Duties, and the State

Centuries later, the Enlightenment brought forth new theories that reframed the relationship between the citizen and the State around the concept of a social contract. These thinkers grappled with the origins of political authority and the reciprocal duties and rights that bind individuals to their government.

From Hobbes to Rousseau

| Philosopher | View on Citizen's Role & Duty

Video by: The School of Life

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