Obligation - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Obligation, a silent architect of human interaction, stands as both a promise and a burden, a tie that binds individuals to actions, principles, and one another and is variously known as duty, commitment, or responsibility. Is it a freely chosen path, or one prescribed by forces beyond our control?
The echoes of obligation resonate throughout history, whispered in ancient oaths and codified in early legal texts. The Code of Hammurabi (c. 1754 BC) and the Edicts of Ashoka (c. 269–232 BCE) are prime examples, outlining societal duties and responsibilities under the rule of their respective monarchs. Early Greek philosophy, championed by figures like Socrates and Plato, further explored moral obligations and duties to the state. More immediately after, the advent of Christianity cemented the idea of obligation under the premise of moral laws one must adhere to. These ancient foundations laid the groundwork for centuries of philosophical debate, with prominent historical figures such as Immanuel Kant emphasizing the significance of moral obligation and the categorical imperative.
Over time, various schools of thought have grappled with the nature of obligation, from consequentialism, which focuses on the outcomes of actions, to deontology, which emphasizes moral duties and rules. The rise of existentialism challenged traditional notions by questioning the source of moral values. Influenced by the likes of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche, the ethical dilemmas and existential crisis in the theories of Jean-Paul Sartre have revolutionized ethical thought and obligation, resulting in our contemporary understanding. Contemporary ethics considers novel moral quandaries, such as whether ethics in AI should include creating ethical obligations in AI, and fairness, as a philosophical argument. The trolley problem variations and thought experiment, such as the monty hall, have served to demonstrate moral reasoning. Concepts in game theory, such as the prisoner's dilemma, serve as another framework in which to understand how cooperation can be a system of obligation.
Today, societal expectations concerning moral obligation continue to shape our everyday lives, impacting institutions from government to the family unit. The ethics of climate change, the debate on freedom of expression and ethics, bioethics and autonomy, and the ethics of social media illustrate obligation in the modern world. As technology advances and society evolves, we continue wrestling with questions of social contract ethics, the tension between free will and responsibility, and the very foundation of moral responsibility: What are we truly obligated to do, and to whom? This question underscores the continuing mystique and relevance in our ever-changing world.