Imagined Scenario 1
The very fact that the individual lives in a community has important implications regarding the freedoms of the individual. While we might all like to live however we wish, doing entirely as we desire, we need to be aware of the impact our actions have on others. All actions have consequences, do they not?
Let’s then take a look at an imagined scenario to get a better understanding of what problems could potentially arise.
Let’s imagine some individual living in a small town who likes to play their music loud and does so often and at all hours of the day and night. As can be expected, this might well cause annoyance to the next door neighbours and those living close by. Perhaps the person living in the house directly next door is someone who likes to live in peace and quiet.
Obviously, this situation could be cause for conflict.
This imagined scenario also throws up many important questions that require our consideration – some of which might be rather surprising to the reader.
I should say at this point that I don’t necessarily have answers to these questions, but I think that these questions need to be posed and the issue debated in order to find the answers – or at least to arrive at a position which can be considered somewhat satisfactory.
What should be done?
So, how should conflicts such as these, conflicts that always arise within a community, be resolved? Moreover, how should this particular conflict be resolved?
I guess the community could chose not to interfere and just let the two parties resolve it on their own. Who knows what might transpire in this event. Perhaps the issue between them might never be resolved and thus it might rumble on for a number of years. Or, perhaps it might escalate, resulting in some physical altercation with one party sustaining some kind of injury.
Or, perhaps the community could chose to get involved and try and act as intermediary. Both parties would then necessarily have to agree that the community would act as intermediary. And perhaps someone, or some representative body, will have to preside over proceedings and then make a determination. And again, both parties would necessarily have to agree to terms of that ruling.
Who is to be favoured?
Let’s assume for the time being that the community is going to preside over the proceedings and is able to make a determination in this case. Which individual should be favoured? Whose rights should be championed - the rights of the person playing their music loud, or the neighbor who has the right to live in peace and quite (and not to have to listen anyone else’s music blaring)?
If it is decided that the person playing their music loud is favoured, then the peace-loving neighbour will be forced to suffer the blaring music forevermore. If, however, it is decided that the neighbour who wants to live in peace and quiet is favoured, then music loving person will not be allowed to play their music loud anymore.
