Ethics of Citizenship: Justice, Dignity, and Freedom

Person, Dignity, and Citizenship

The ethics of citizenship is an ethics of justice for two primary reasons:

• First: It does not promote a specific ideal of human excellence; instead, ethics assumes that people hold different concepts of the "good" and have rights to be respected under the law.
• Second: It describes an ideal of justice by defining the moral values, rights, and duties that should govern communal living.

This framework combines:

• A principle of respect for difference (the pluralism of values).
• A principle of respect for the common framework which governs cohabitation.

The Axiological Principle of Civic Ethics

The axiological principle that inspires ethical and civic dignity is invariably the person. This is an absolute value which must be respected without exception by all. Dignity is defined as:

• A prescriptive moral principle: This means we assume a moral obligation to respect the commitment to achieve more, while respecting individual freedom and equality.
• A principle of legitimate morality: This suggests that rights, laws, institutions, and both private and public behaviors must be legitimate and just.
• A face of moral values: The dignity of the person derives from fundamental values of freedom and equality, as well as the rights, duties, and institutions that make them possible.

Dignity and Freedom in Society

The dignity of the person implies that everyone has the right to decide their own life projects and the goals they seek to achieve. Regarding political freedom, this encompasses both the freedom of political participation and the liberty of non-interference.

• Political participation: This indicates that if a person has the right to decide about their life, they also have the right to determine which conditions are most favorable for it.
• Non-interference: This means that individuals possess a sphere of privacy that the state and political powers must maintain and respect.

Both concepts lead to a democratic system. If I wish to participate politically while preserving my privacy, the best method is to decide how the state functions and who should perform its tasks.

Freedom in Economic and Private Spheres

In the economic sphere, freedom signifies the freedom of initiative, contract, free trade, or business, and the right to enjoy the resulting benefits.

In the private sphere, it is assumed that within the framework of respect for the law, and if not invading the freedom of others, I may organize my life as I deem best.