return to list of latest ideas

Single Idea 20874

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 4. Citizenship]

Full Idea

The commitment of the citizen is to have no private advantage, not to deliberate about anything as though one were a separate part.

Gist of Idea

A citizen is committed to ignore private advantage, and seek communal good

Source

Epictetus (The Discourses [c.56], 2.10.04)

A Reaction

This is the modern problem of whether democratic voters are choosing for themselves or for the community. I think we should make an active effort at every election to persuade voters to aim for the communal good. Cf Rawls.

Book Reference

'The Stoics Reader', ed/tr. Inwood,B/Gerson,L.P. [Hackett 2008], p.200