Society And its Purpose
Book 2 - The End of Society
CHAPTER 10
Duties of social government
218. We can now deduce the principal, supreme duties of civil government, which are founded in the very nature of the society under government rule. They can be reduced to the following three:
1. Not to obstruct the individuals composing the society so that they are prevented from or hampered in achieving true human good, the final and essential end of both individual and society.
2. To remove, in so far as possible, every obstacle which hampers individuals in the achievement of this good, and particularly, to defend the right of each against any usurpation and oppression by others.
3. To co-operate positively, using only the means proper to social government, so that individuals are encouraged and guided directly to the acquisition of true human good.
No civil society nor its government has the power to act contrary to these three moral duties, from which all other more particular obligations of social administrations derive.