Final answer:
The phrase implies that public roles are temporary responsibilities, not permanent rewards, aligning with the view that government positions are duties aimed at serving society's needs and delivering public goods.
The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The meaning of the original statement 'Public functions are necessarily temporary; they cannot be considered as distinctions or rewards but as duties,' refers to the understanding that public roles are not meant to be permanent honors or prizes. Instead, they are responsibilities assigned for a given period to serve the society and public interest.
This aligns with option b) Public functions are temporary and seen as duties. Public functions, such as those within public administration and government bureaucracies, entail carrying out policies and services that benefit the community, such as education, security, and infrastructure like streetlights, which embody public goods as defined by philosophers like David Hume.
The general purposes of government include creating rules and responsibilities, protecting citizens, and providing for their well-being. Roles within the government are designed to fulfill these functions rather than to serve as lifelong status symbols or rewards for individuals.
This is also reflected in principles of fairness and equality of opportunities in public office, ensuring that roles benefit the least advantaged and support the overall functioning and welfare of the society rather than the personal gain of the officeholder.
The correct option is B.