Key Concepts of Civic Duty, Justice, and Authority

Understanding Civic Responsibility and Authority

The Foundations of Citizenship

What are the two essential functions of a citizen?

• Fulfill civic duties.
• Help build a fairer world.

What are the two elements of civic conscience?

Civic conscience consists of two primary elements:

1. Knowledge: Understanding our own rights and duties.
2. Feelings: Feelings of personal dignity, responsibility, and solidarity with others.

Defining Responsibility: Types and Scope

What is psychological responsibility versus ethical responsibility?

• Psychological Responsibility: A person who is able to act consciously and freely is responsible for the acts they perform.
• Ethical Responsibility: A person who has duties and obligations to fulfill is responsible for meeting them.

What is individual responsibility versus collective responsibility?

• Individual Responsibility: Each person is responsible for their own actions.
• Collective Responsibility: All those who, by their actions, contribute in some way to the existence and maintenance of a state share responsibility for that situation.

What is the triple scope of individual responsibility?

The acts done by one person can affect three areas:

1. Self: Affecting the individual person and their health.
2. Immediate Circle: Affecting the people closest and dearest to them.
3. Community: Affecting the rest of the people in the community.

Justice and Fair Judgment

How is justice defined?

Justice is defined as the habit or inclination to give everyone their due.

What two factors determine what is due to a person?

To determine what is due to a person, one must consider two things:

1. Rights: All individuals have equal rights because these are granted by inherent human dignity.
2. Merit: Merit is not equal for all, as it is granted based on behavior and actions.

What are the five requirements for fair judgment?

A person must meet the following five requirements to judge others fairly:

1. Knowledge: Knowing the facts by which we judge fully and accurately.
2. Objectivity: Judging without being drawn into personal likes and dislikes.
3. Impartiality: Judging without showing any favoritism.
4. Stability: Maintaining consistency when applying standards and rules (avoiding changes from one moment to another).
5. Proportionality in Reward and Punishment: Measuring the magnitude of the reward or punishment in relation to the action being rewarded or punished.

What is the Golden Rule of Justice?

The Golden Rule of Justice states: "Do not do unto your neighbor what you do not like done unto you."

Forms of Authority

Define the two major forms of authority.

• Moral Authority: Authority derived from a person's own worth, based on their knowledge or behavior.
• Legal Authority: Authority derived from the position a person holds and the law. This authority may be legitimate or illegitimate and can exist with or without corresponding moral authority.