In his book Treatise of Human nature, Hume suggested that justice can be regarded as an artificial virtue. Hume argued that there cannot be social justice as members of the society cannot simply cooperate. Individuals in a society are driven by selfish desires of material possessions and checked generosity than love for each other. He points out that individual in their human capacities are not good in sharing properties. As pointed out by Hume, it is due to scarcity of resources that brings about their limited supply and hence the necessity of recognizing restricted private property rights in any given society. Despite the fact that human beings requires to live together, they find it hard to accept to share resources in a societal manner. The need for private property rights and the scarcity of resources and need to fulfill his wants are some of the circumstances that make justice a virtue aspect in any given society (Barry pp. 203-204).
Hume argues that a society is just an institution established to facilitate individuals to virtually live together but as a separate entity. In his argument, Hume suggested that human being forms communities in which every individual is allowed to belong. Of all circumstances, there must be clear distinction between what property is owned by whom and necessity for possession stability. Once these circumstances are observed there is very little or nothing that remains for communal possession. In the community resources are not evenly distributed among the members. Resource allocation depends on individual’s capability and state in the society (Brian p. 87).
Circumstances of justice in a global context may be well explained through Global citizenship. This is a concept used to explain citizenship across the globe. Global citizenship is the moral and principled behaviors that explain the characters and values of human beings in a local or global context in a bid to understand them better. It guides individuals and groups of their responsibilities and roles in a community. Justice should be on the basis of real relationships among members forming a community or a society. Society should develop principles to enhance a growing relationship among its members. Justice should demonstrate the need for international and transnational relationships within the global community to bring about international justice. Global citizenship focuses on identifying globalizing economic resources (Buchanan p. 56).
Due to scarcity of resources, individuals have grouped themselves on the basis of availability and accessibility to the resources. On this context global justice remains a dream. The haves tend to cling to their wealth and due to the relative scarcity of these resources, the have-nots forms a society of their own. On global context the developed countries constitutes the developed societies. They own the highest proportion of the resources. These resources are not collectively owned but possessed individually. This class of global citizenship concerns with globalization of economic wellbeing. They are guided by the notion that the world is gradually turning into a global institution. In the global environment, the more economically powerful economies should have a social and a moral responsibility towards promoting the welfare of the less disadvantaged economies. This in effect is not the case. In a bid to promote global justice throughout the world, the developed nations have come up with a world order. This is an agreement that these nations should assist the less developed nations to meet their daily requirements and enjoy high standards of living enjoyed by the developed states. Global justice is both possible and necessary. Developed nations are the key players in the field of resource allocation. They own large businesses organizations and multinational companies. These key players in the economical field have programs aimed at giving back to the society. Although they claim to do so, their scope is far much below the required standards to maintain relatively high living standards. This demonstrates their selfish attitude towards realization of international justice although they have the potential and capabilities (Dower p. 153).
To achieve justice whether at national, international or global level, the wealthy persons and states as a matter of urgency require transferring a considerable amount of their wealth to the poor. This calls for establishment of global institutions with capability of transforming, reforming or even replacing the selfish actions of large multinational corporations and the beliefs of powerful states in resource allocation globally (Sen P. 16).
As Dower pointed out, global citizenship is founded on understanding that an individual has a moral, social and economical duty towards each other and especially in a global manner. All human beings require moral respect and support exceptionally. This is based on realization that no single individual is more important than the other. No human being can exist alone. Humans must exist as a community. Different states or societies are endowed differently in terms of resources. It is a social responsibility of a state or a society to interact and assist one another. Global citizenship can be seen as an ethical issue intended to enlarge human interaction and power. In essence the aspect of globalization also focuses on environmental needs and care. By conserving and protecting the environment, an individual takes care of the wellbeing of the other (Caney p.61).
There is need for all nations to cooperate economically, socially and politically to urgently control pollution for industrial survival. This will ensure that the world becomes a better place to live for everyone despite economical and social differences. All human beings are members to a global community. Humans are social beings. From time immemorial, human beings have always existed together. With recent developments in all sectors such as education, business, Transport, communications and sports there has been increased interaction of people from all corners of the world. The world has been made a global village. The level of interaction among communities has increased to a very high level such that individuals have seized to consider themselves in their tribal or state’s identification but on global aspects. They consider themselves global citizens. This trend empowers Dower’s aspiration claim. The world is gradually becoming one society in which individual basic values are getting realized (Hassoun p. 21).
The idea of circumstances of justice is a practical phenomenon in attributing global citizenship. Disparities in standards of living, distribution of resources and wealth are possible threats to global justice and citizenship. Global citizenship is closely linked to human rights and dignity. This entails equitable allocation of resources available to a given society whether economical or market deliberations, and every member of that society can access good medical care. Societies should take responsibility of persons in need. Global citizenship can be acquired if all stakeholders actively participate in an effort to eradicate or reduce both social and international inequalities and to resist from all aspects that lowers the individual welfare. Inequality may be national or international. International inequality is well depicted while comparing the economies of developed and less developed states (Hobbes & Thomas p. 69).
The causes are attributed to factors such as colonialism, economical exploitation and imperialism. Internal inequality is the inequality between members of the same state. This can be as a result of poverty and poor education systems. There is need for global education on citizenship which incorporates human right awareness, peace education and international relations. Internationally, different republics should act as a global world by taking their responsibility by acting so. They should uphold the rights of global citizenship such as freedom of movement rights. States should uphold the concept of idealism by exercising high level of goodwill while formulating their foreign policy. Global citizenship can be fostered by the citizens themselves. The citizens have greatly agitated for universal rights and the need to migrating all over the world. Global citizenship although practicable will require good amount of time to be fully implemented. Individuals and corporations that hold majority of the global resources, due to self interest will always refuse to share or let go of these resources. It will take a lot of efforts through pressure groups to pressurize these institutions to take a collective action towards raising the social well being of the less fortunate individuals or state. It is therefore evident that as Hume argued out, the circumstances of justice if well and willfully executed can lead to global citizenship (Beitz p. 48-50).
Works cited
Barry, Education and standards of living. In R. Curren (ed.), A Companion to the Philosophy of Education. Oxford: Blackwell 2006.
Beitz, Political Theory and International Relations. Revised edition, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999.
Brian, Culture and Equality. Cambridge: Polity, 2001.
Buchanan, Justice, Legitimacy, and Self-determination: Moral Foundations for International Law. Oxford University Press: Oxford 2004.
Caney, Justice Beyond Borders. Oxford: OUP, 2005.
Dower, An Introduction to Global Citizenship. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 2003.
Hassoun. “World Poverty and Individual Freedom.” American Philosophical Quarterly 2008.
Hobbes & Thomas, Leviathan. 1651 Edwin Curley (Ed.). Hackett Publishing 1994.
Sen, Inequality Reexamined. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press 1992.