13 September 2024 : Daily Answer Writing

Q1) “That which is not good for the bee-hive cannot be good for the bees.”- Marcus Aurelius

(150 Words/10 Marks)

ANS

e face a choice between a social reality where people would accept modest sacrifices for a common good (beehive) and one where people steadfastly protect individual rights (bees).

The common good of ‘beehive’ is supreme because of following reasons:

1. Utilitarian principles – Maximum happiness of the maximum number of people lies in collective security. Only a peaceful society can conserve its energy and direct it towards development goals. E.g., Imposition of the first emergency in India (1962-1968) in the turbulent decade of the 1960s.
2. Distributive Justice – The reaped outcomes must be distributed evenly among all the members of the society to bridge socio-economic divides and deliver social justice. E.g., affirmative action policies and welfare role of state in India.
3. Limits to freedom – An individual’s freedom extends to the extent it does not encroach onto the freedom of others. Even fundamental rights under the Indian constitution are subject to reasonable restrictions like morality, public order, and health under article 19.
4. Certain global challenges like terrorism, climate change, de-globalization etc. require emphasis on collective-good. E.g., lockdown and related restrictions during Covid-19 pandemic.
5. Collective security is critical to protect against geo-political threats like the Chinese ‘string of pearls’ in India’s neighborhood. NATO’s security umbrella for Europe, USA’s Monroe doctrine

or Kautilya’s Mandala doctrine are examples of collective security mechanisms.

However, the individual good of ‘bees’ is also important for following reasons:

1. Individual good is critical for the collective good. If a person is not happy, he cannot be a source of happiness for others. This view is supported by Indian schools of thought like Charvaka.
2. As per modern economic principles, the invisible hand of the market is based on economic freedom rather than protectionist policies. E.g., as argued by Adam Smith in his work ‘Wealth of Nations.’
3. As per John Locke, a person is entitled to three rights i.e., life, liberty, and property by virtue of being a human.
4. Constitutional morality – According to it, an individual’s right cannot be sacrificed at the altar of society’s customs. E.g., the Sabrimala judgement on women’s temple entry.
5. Protection of Human rights – Violation of social, cultural, political rights can lead to unrest and violence. E.g. – violation of Palestinian’s human rights leads to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, or threats of majoritarianism.

In conclusion, we can say that peace and prosperity require upholding common-good. But protection for individual rights, minority interests, and social justice are needed to strengthen the foundation of collective good for long-term welfare.