Essay Sample
Issue
"It is possible to pass laws that control or place limits on people's behaviour, but legislation cannot reform human nature. Laws cannot change what is in people's hearts and minds."
Essay
“Man is born free but is in chains everywhere.”--- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Social Contract Nothing can be more apt than Rousseau’s quote in his book “The Social Contract”. It is more significant in today’s world because of the prevalent chaos and turmoil that surround us. Human nature, as such, is complex; it is difficult to understand what the other person is thinking, no matter how well you know/understand that individual. Individuals, on the other hand, are products of their surroundings. If an individual has calm surroundings, the mind is restrained and he adheres to laws. If his surroundings are embroiled in turmoil, the more disturbed he is likely to be. It is amidst this background that legislatures are framed and passed; legislatures that aim to protect an individual from untoward happenings.
However, laws have their limitations; they cannot transform the substance that is inherent in an individual. For example, consider the example of corporate governance. A large corporation or business house might want to run its business efficiently and ethically using the rules and principles formulated for the business. However, there are bound to be individuals within the organization who might not want to adhere to the ethical code of conduct. Therefore, although the rules and regulations exist within the company, the innate nature of an individual cannot be governed by those regulations (whatever the situation).
Similarly, it is difficult for legislations to govern human nature. It is for this reason that legislations are also accompanied by penalties to set an example so that such violations can be curbed. Because man is a social animal, Rousseau states that it is important to have a social contract with another human being. This would help govern each other’s
"It is possible to pass laws that control or place limits on people's behaviour, but legislation cannot reform human nature. Laws cannot change what is in people's hearts and minds."
Essay
“Man is born free but is in chains everywhere.”--- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Social Contract Nothing can be more apt than Rousseau’s quote in his book “The Social Contract”. It is more significant in today’s world because of the prevalent chaos and turmoil that surround us. Human nature, as such, is complex; it is difficult to understand what the other person is thinking, no matter how well you know/understand that individual. Individuals, on the other hand, are products of their surroundings. If an individual has calm surroundings, the mind is restrained and he adheres to laws. If his surroundings are embroiled in turmoil, the more disturbed he is likely to be. It is amidst this background that legislatures are framed and passed; legislatures that aim to protect an individual from untoward happenings.
However, laws have their limitations; they cannot transform the substance that is inherent in an individual. For example, consider the example of corporate governance. A large corporation or business house might want to run its business efficiently and ethically using the rules and principles formulated for the business. However, there are bound to be individuals within the organization who might not want to adhere to the ethical code of conduct. Therefore, although the rules and regulations exist within the company, the innate nature of an individual cannot be governed by those regulations (whatever the situation).
Similarly, it is difficult for legislations to govern human nature. It is for this reason that legislations are also accompanied by penalties to set an example so that such violations can be curbed. Because man is a social animal, Rousseau states that it is important to have a social contract with another human being. This would help govern each other’s