For so long, there have been initiatives toward societal growth and development in areas of political, social and economic betterment of the people. However, one potent ideology that places emphasis on societal growth based on the quality of the contributions of individuals that makes up the society has yet failed to gain global popularity.
The reason is not far-fetched. So many a people, both followers and leaders are swallowed by the desire to see a better society in a way such that little or no attention is paid to the core foundational elements that boosts the prosperity of the society. The establishment of a society reflects the spontaneous collaborations among its main elements, the individuals, who by choice or existential nature found themselves in these societies.
The society hence does not pre-exist the existence of individuals, but is a resultant effect of the existence of several individuals. To this end, it is safe to conclude that the path towards societal development is not by modeling a society for individuals, but through the "making of individuals that will impact societal growth through their moral and productive individual choices, the liberty to their right to these choices and the freedom of taking responsibilities for the choices they make. (Moral as used here reflects to live in truth, dignity and freedom).
The individual promotes a productive society through his or her ability to engage in peaceful means free of coercion and man-made infringements, toward the pursuit of happiness.
The legal foundations that protect and defend his individual rights to life and properties is essential, and as such, completes the puzzle of what a societal role should be in societal development.
Societal development should be constant, be spontaneously reliant on the productiveness of the several elements that constitutes it, to which it should be focused on establishing expressive and not inhibitive platforms for the productive pursuits of those individuals to be accomplished. Therefore, establishing and sustaining sound legal institutions, as one of such expressive platforms, free of manipulation by virtue of political authority should be aimed at enhancing the productivity of the individual through the rule of law and property rights, and not a mere platform of societal manipulation in itself.
The rule of law to differentiate between what is right and wrong in accordance to agreed established laws, aimed to give justice where it is worthy without fear or bias and most importantly, not in ways that inhibit the freedom of individuals to pursue productive self-development measures.
When individuals are assured of representative legal system where no one is by any means above the law, their ability to utilize their talents, knowledge, skills and other abilities to create goods and services is inspired. And of their rights to these properties, both intellectual and material, will they be free to put to use as they wish, with the understanding that their use of it is protected and well-defended by a just legal system.
The society should not in any way be placed above the individual, but be made to acknowledge that it's very existence (developed, developing or undeveloped) is spontaneously dependent on the productiveness of the individuals which makes it. The individual comes first, which then makes up the society and the enrichment of which is relatively dependent on the freedom to pursue productivity and the attendant productivity of its individual elements.
Keep calm and enjoy Individualism. Proudly by Libertarianism!
[photo credit] 123RF Photos
