Society vs. Individual Liberties: Where to stop?
or, Do we really have the liberties?
Modern societies were the first to recognize themselves as societies, that is, to reflect explicitly on the normative basis of their constitution. It is established that individuals possess certain basic rights. The existence of individual rights is generally considered to be an essential element of our society. In 1789 in the United States was adopted the Bill of Rights that enumerates such freedoms as: the right to speak and write freely without governmental censorship, the right to peaceably assemble, the right to exercise one's religion without coercion or penalty, the right to be free from unwarranted arrest and prosecution, and the right to be secure in one's property, among others.
In a word, the individual rights can be summarized along two underlying dimensions: 1) the right to be free from unreasonable interference in one's beliefs, associations, and activities; and 2) the right to equal treatment by the government and the society. These rights should regulate the relation of a society and individual, and protect freedom of the individual.
But do they really work? Let's look, whether really these rights protect our individual liberties.
For instance, every person has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the freedom to choose one's religion or belief, and the freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest one's religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance between consenting persons.
Does it work? When the child is born it is the parents who decide what religion will practice their child, but not child himself or herself. As a rule the choice of religion is dictated by a society in which this family exists. Moreover, when we are bringing up the child we explain him the rule of behavior in a society. Isn’t it an infringement of his freedom?
All Individuals must be free to live by one's own nature and not be forced or coerced to conform to the behavior of others. The right of individuals to identify, organize and live according their own definition of nationality, heritage, sex roles, race, ethnicity, religion or other social or cultural group shall not be denied, nor shall any person be subjected to harassment or persecution because of one's social identity. All persons have the right to alternative lifestyles, to live the way that they want, to behave and interact with others and to form their own societies based on their own beliefs without persecution or harassment.
But these words are mostly just beautiful words. And in actual fact each individual exists in the certain society and it somehow or other influences him/her determining his/her mode of life and way of thinking. The society constantly meddles with life of the individual dictating its rules, or what is wrong or right thereby infringing our liberties.
How we can avoid this? Every society wrestles with the tension between order for society and freedom for individuals. Individual rights and liberties exist in constant tension with majority rule. Individual rights must be balanced against legitimate societal interests in morality, order, public health and safety.
So, society vs. individual liberties: where to stop?
"So long as we do not harm others we should be free to think, speak, act, and live as we see fit, without molestation from individuals, law, or government...The only freedom which deserves the name, is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it." - John Stuart Mill; On Liberty