Sigmund Wollstonecraft: The First Requisite Of Civilization

The first requisite of civilization is that of justice. Sigmund Freud (Austrian psychologist, 1856-1939) “The first requisite of civilization, therefore, is that of justice-that is, the assurance that a law once made will not be broken in favor an individual. This implies nothing as the ethical value of such a law,” (Freud 49). In other words what Freud means by his quote is that once the law and regulation of justice are set in place it allows civilization to have order and structure but the law of justice must be the first law created in order for the society to be successful. Which also allows the law of justice to be in favor of protecting equal individuals rights and creating consequences if these laws were broken. This is important
The idea of justice was very important to her because she had first-hand experience of suffering child abuse and living in America as women while being limited to resources and respect. Both of these experiences and hardships helped shape her into focusing on establishing justice and order for all people. Like Freud, she understood the importance and urgent need for the regulation of justice to be the first priority and law established in civilization. By Wollstonecraft advocating for the establishment of justice, rights and law she helped address controversial issues protecting rights for women, children, and impoverished families but also combat the many injustices they faced. Which resulted in creating a strong foundation for the laws and rights for all people that would later play a significant role in the structure of America’s
So that the world would be structured, in unity and protect people’s rights and also enforce consequences if these laws were broken or violated. Molly Wollstonecraft would have agreed with Freud’s quote about justice because she was also in strong favor of justice, equality and rights for children and women. She supported the idea that justice was essential and should be the first law and regulation established in a society. Whereas Jean Jacques Rousseau did not agree nor was he in favor of Freud’s view of justice because he felt as if justice was not a real concept and did not actually protect individuals or enforce laws. He believed strongly in the social contract theory which implied that when people came together it would result only in corruption and wickedness within the government and laws that were passed. There is such a thin line when it comes to understanding how humans define justice; some are in favor of justice rights, some are not and some do not have an opinion of justice. Whether you're in agreeance with Sigmund Freud and Molly Wollstonecraft view that creating justice laws should be the first priority in civilization or if you agree with Jean Jacques Rousseau view of that justice laws should not be the first priority within civilization because civilization is already corrupted and justice