Likewise, it has the duty and the right, over those who, through extravagance, destroy the security of the subsistence of themselves and their families, to take them into tutelage, and to carry out, in their place, the purpose of society, and their own.
In Athens it was law that every citizen had to give an account of how he lived; nowadays the view prevails that this is nobody’s business. To be sure, every individual is, on the one hand, for himself, but on the other hand he is also a member of the system of civil society, and insofar as every human being has, from it, the right to demand subsistence, it must also protect him against himself. It is not starvation alone that is at issue, but the further point of view is that no rabble should arise. Because civil society is obliged to sustain individuals, it also has the right to compel them to provide for their own subsistence.
§ 240: Protection from oneself
Some people waste their wealth. In doing so, they put their own living at risk, and that of their family.
What may society do then?
It has the duty and the right to place such people under guardianship. Then it acts in their place. It acts for the purpose of society and for their own purpose.
Is this no one else’s business?
People often think so today. In ancient Athens, however, every citizen had to be able to say what he lived on. The individual does not exist only for himself. He is also a member of society. He can demand that it secures his living. So it must also protect him from himself.
What is at stake here?
Not only that no one starves. No rabble should arise either. Because society must feed people, it may also demand that they provide for themselves.
Summary: If someone wastes his wealth, society may place him under guardianship. Society must also protect the individual from himself. It may demand that everyone takes care of himself.
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