Universal human duties? Restoring dignity in a distracted world

Modern life often focuses on what we can demand from others — our rights, our entitlements, our needs. But a society that only asks “What am I owed?” becomes brittle and self-centered. Instead, we should look to universal human duties: the responsibilities each of us has to uphold truth, offer love, and care for future generations. These duties aren’t burdens — they are what allow us to build lasting relationships and live meaningful lives.

The duty of truthfullness

Truthfullness is the foundation of any relationship, family, or society that hopes to endure. Speaking honestly is more than not lying — it’s the willingness to own our mistakes, to admit what we don’t know, and to seek understanding rather than dominance. In a time when attention spans are short and social media rewards outrage over nuance, committing to truthfullness can feel radical. Yet it’s the only way to avoid cycles of blame, resentment, and misunderstanding. Truthfullness also means resisting the temptation to tell comforting fictions — to ourselves or to others — and instead daring to face reality, however inconvenient or painful it may be. By embodying the duty of truthfullness, we model integrity for those around us, especially children, who learn not from what we say, but from what we do.

The duty of love

If we were fortunate enough to receive love as children, we carry a responsibility to share it as adults. But even if we lacked loving examples growing up, we can choose to break cycles of neglect or harm by practicing compassion. Love in this sense is not indulgent; it is patient, steadfast, and self-sacrificial when needed. It means resisting the reflex to lash out when we are hurt, and instead responding with curiosity and care. Love requires courage, because it asks us to open ourselves to vulnerability and to see the humanity even in those who wrong us. By giving love freely, we reaffirm that dignity is not earned by performance or perfection, but granted unconditionally. This duty reminds us that love is not merely a feeling, but an active, ongoing choice to support and cherish others.

The duty to protect the future

Our lives are part of an unbroken chain — we are the products of those who came before us and the stewards of a world for those who will follow. Intergenerational reciprocity means recognizing that our choices ripple outward across time. It is our duty to teach, to mentor, to share wisdom and experience — and to ensure the world we leave behind is one where dignity, opportunity, and hope still exist. This duty also demands that we care for the planet, understanding that environmental destruction is a theft from those yet unborn. By modeling courage and resilience, we show the next generation how to stand up to life’s challenges without resorting to bitterness or blame. Intergenerational reciprocity means that we repay the gifts we’ve received — or, if we were deprived, we work doubly hard to create what we ourselves needed.

Not just surviving, but thriving

We live in an era of technofeudalism, where powerful platforms and algorithms exploit every weakness of human attention. Our thoughts, desires, and even our conflicts are commodified — harvested for engagement and profit. These systems thrive on division, outrage, and shallow spectacle, encouraging us to see each other as opponents rather than fellow humans. As families struggle to stay connected, and individuals feel increasingly isolated despite being “plugged in” at all times, remembering our universal human duties is more urgent than ever.

Truthfulness becomes a radical act when lies go viral; love becomes a rebellion when cynicism is rewarded; the duty to protect the future becomes a shield when short-term thinking dominates. Our humanity cannot be reduced to data points for advertisers or pawns in ideological battles. By recommitting to these duties, we reclaim what makes us human: the ability to see beyond ourselves, to stand in solidarity with others, and to build a world that is more than a marketplace of competing grievances.

In choosing to live by these duties, we push back against the commodification of our souls. We assert that life’s meaning is not defined by what we consume or how we are seen, but by what we give — to truth, to love, and to the future.

What we do now is what matters most.
- Marcus Aurelius