Out of Charity, Not Out of Duty | Abdulkarim Soroush

From the introduction of the book:

Thank the Beneficent God that the third book in the “Stories of Sages” series, titled “Out of Charity, Not Out of Duty,” has been published. Those familiar with my spoken and written works will recognize that the concepts of Rights and Duty have long been a central concern for me. I can confidently assert that my work was the first to elucidate the opposition between these categories in terms of Tradition versus Modernity and Despotism versus Liberalism. I have also emphasized that what is commonly referred to as Liberalism is best understood and interpreted as the “Rights-Centered School.” The primary distinction between traditional and modern human beings lies in their self-perception: the former view themselves as duty-bound and rights-oriented, while the latter see themselves as entitled to rights. This shift in perspective explains why modern individuals prioritize their lives over their beliefs, considering religion to be their right rather than their duty. It remains my conviction that Ethics and State in the modern world are rights-oriented, whereas, in the traditional world, they are duty-oriented.