Public Safety Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Public Safety Debate - Essay Example In the novel, The Prince, Machiavelli implies that the state holds all authority. This Machiavellian perspective explicitly argues that all morality, power and natural law should be controlled by the rulers of the state, in the interests of national security and the continuance of the rulers’ power. In the essay, â€Å"On Liberty† John Stuart Mill suggests that â€Å"The only purpose for which power can rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilized community against his will is to prevent harm to others† (John Stuart Mill in Hart, 1963:4-5). Could the purpose of law be as simply stated as: a set of rules to protect society and the individuals within it, and always the safety of the society is more important than that of the individual? In the world’s largest democracy, where human rights principles are constitutionally entrenched, the prioritization of the community over the individual can undoubtedly be seriously questioned. Whether there is moral justification for a law or a security-related need for a law, there has to be widespread agreement within a community or society which recognizes that law (Hart, 1994: 258). Individuals within a society must recognize, acknowledge the validity of, and agree to abide by a law. In the debate over whether public safety is more important than civil rights in the United States of America (US), such questions about the nature of the law, the validity of laws, and the need for community security of the population must be addressed. In at least four instances, forming the basis of the thesis of this paper, the conflict between civil rights and laws enacted to promote national security is notable. In the light of democratic principles, is it justifiable to remove one person’s rights for the presumed greater good? At any given time, certain acts may be seen as immoral, or threatening to the greater good.