Which philosopher argued that individuals carry obligations to the existing government?

The philosopher who argued that individuals carry obligations to the existing government is Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau's ideas prominently feature the concept of the social contract, where he posits that individuals consent to form a society and be governed in exchange for the protection of their rights and interests. This agreement implies a reciprocal obligation; individuals owe loyalty and adherence to the laws of the government that they have implicitly agreed to be part of.

Rousseau emphasized that for a society to function effectively, its citizens must uphold their responsibilities towards the state, which includes obeying its laws and contributing to its welfare. This belief in civic duty is foundational in understanding the relationship between the individual and government in political philosophy. In contrast, the other philosophers mentioned approach the individual-government relationship from different perspectives—Bentham focuses on utilitarianism, Fichte on nationalism and self-consciousness, and Hume on empiricism and skepticism, which do not specifically discuss obligations to government in the same manner.