Single Idea 5660

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / c. Natural rights]

Full Idea

Personally I regard allegiance, in the manner of Hegel, as prior to the recognition of individual rights.

Gist of Idea

Allegiance is prior to the recognition of individual rights

Source

Roger Scruton (Short History of Modern Philosophy [1981], Bibliog)

Book Reference

Scruton,Roger: 'A Short History of Modern Philosophy' [ARK 1985], p.291


A Reaction

Scruton notoriously generates rather right-wing views from this basis, but it is also the basis of communitarianism, which can take a softer form. It seems to me self-evident that rights cannot be the prime concept in a society. What society?