One take on the rights and freedoms and obligations and responsibilities to others, to society, to a nation, or to humanity itself that I found particularly pragmatic, and well presented, surprisingly came in a series of novels.
In this series, called "War Against the Chtorr", humanity faces a series of invasive alien lower life form species that are a purposeful effort to extinguish life on Earth and terraform our planet to be suitable for more complex alien life to arrive later.
That scenario lays the groundwork for a "no holds barred" code of ethics... if humanity thinks it needs some particular individuals, to do some particular tasks, if extinction at stake, there are no future judges to face, in the event of failure. Success is necessary. There is no more primary goal than survival as a species.
Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Against_the_Chtorr
In the series of novels, set in the future, the US has lost a grand global war of some sort, and as punishment, all US citizens are forced to take a university level course in civics and ethics.
What society can justify expecting from an individual, and what obligations an individual should shoulder on behalf of society. Presented in various chapters, as "a day's particular in-class lesson". Recollections by a character of how a lesson was taught, and what was learned.
It was read as entertainment. And it was also very educational. enlightening. Down to Earth.
My favourite chapter introduced this concept:
- If one was the sole occupant of Earth what rules or laws or commandments would it make sense to compose?
The answer being "Zero". Except for mental notes to self, such as don't eat the glossy red berries.
- If there were two? Would hard and fast rules and laws be needed?
Nah. Earth is big. Draw a line. Live wild each in your own half, you need not ever see one another.
- Doubled to 4, same rule applies. Plenty of room, just divide.
But the sequence of increasing populations continues. 8, 16, 32, pretty soon exclusive patches where each can go wild fail.
At some point Bob, on his side of the line, is gonna bu Mary on her side of the line, with music too loud, played too late at night on his side of the line. Exercising his absolute freedom.
And so, in order to have global peace... the people need compromised freedom. It makes the most sense to aim for... unimpeded freedom, when the freedoms of others are not impacted... and consider their freedoms when actions will impact them, and negotiate compromises.
Inside your lines, mostly, run nekked if you want, but if you are within sight of neighbours... put some clothes on... by common consent. The compromise.
It was good foundational, build up to "This is why we have laws, and limited freedom". Laws not so much made wo limit freedom, but rather to protect the freedoms of others. It made sense. (I was much younger)
The reality that exists is:
Currently, our species has demonstrated grand success... we have gone from millions to billions.
We have wants and dreams and would-be-nices. But we do not face impending doom of any sort, and have no justification as a species to put burden on an individual.
If you want to lay on a beach contributing zero to society, and costing society nothing... like a walrus enjoying the sun... none have justification to judge you for doing nothing.
If aliens invade, we might come get ya.
Personally, I attempt (perhaps am) working in service to all humanity, now and for the rest of human history. (working on answer to everything, in my spare hours when not working paid-work to pay the rent).
It's a choice. I like puzzles and solving them.
It is not an obligation.
