How much we are responsible ?

Question

I want to know opinion of you people that how much we are responsible for our actions.

Answer 1

the answer to this question depends on the point of view.

General viewpoint:
Q.Is/can be a person responsible for his actions?
A. One of the theory says that, he is responsible if his choice is 'conscious' and he is aware of the consequenses of his actions.
But a person's 'consciousness' towards the availability of the choices, ability to 'judge' & take a decision and 'awareness' of consequences, all come from his own experiences or other's experiences.
So, doesn't it depend on his history and surrounding or the society itself?
Again, the interpretation of the experiences depends on the 'intellegence'.
Is it not something which is out of his control again? So, may be at the end, a person is not responsible for his actions ( even if he thiks so !).

In the viewpoint of person himself:
Q.Should a person be responsible for his actions?
A.I think, the answer is 'yes'. But, it is a issue similar to morality or ethics.
It's upto that person to acknowledge it. He should know that it is necessary to be responsible for his own actions for the better society.
Afterall responsibility is a 'conscious' attempt to learn from the experience. The ability to accept and review the choices/decisions and it's consequences.
It is the sense of resposibility which gives rise to concept of 'Ethics'.

In the viewpoint of society or a third person :
Q. Should a person be held responsible for his actions?
A. The answer is definitely 'yes'.
As said by Esther, is the Blind person is really not responsible for hitting a tree?
Doesn't he know that he is blind and he could hit a tree? Doesn't he have the choice to ask for help?
Then, is he not responsible for hitting the tree?
So, a person should always be held responsible for his actions for 2 reasons.
1. This is how society distributes the cumulative responsibility of its members.
2. This adds the 'controlling element' to the decision making of a person, which is necessasary for a healthy society.

Answer 2

I agree with johnny B! Katrina victims were told to get out 3 days in advance of Katrina, Most didnt and now its the governments fault? We are becoming a dumber society because we depend on other people to think for us, keep us safer, and in short take the blame for when we screw up. Look at this congressman Foley charachter, blaming his present actions on his past. Many people have difficult pasts but most dont resort to being pervs or psychos! You are responsible for what you do, period!

Answer 3

Most of us - absolutely none.
That is the reason why we have ever growing government, taxes, and the number of lawyers and law students.
If we REALLY took the responsibility for our actions, we could potentially cut 50-75% of our government, its spending and possibly retire early as we would have more of our hard-earned dollars left every Thursday or Friday. I strongly recommend "What it means to be a Libertarian" by Charles Murray.
A good example - so-called "victims" of hurricane Katrina disaster. Always, blame someone else if you can get away with it.

Good luck with other answers.

Answer 4

Totally responsible, but people won't admit it... well, they might in the philosiphy section, but once something happens, hardly anyone but a saint would selflessly accept consequences or rewards with out some level of greed, or hope of something good coming back to them. Even if they did, they won't take full responsibility because people care about their image and reputation more than what is really going on deeper down.

Answer 5

Responsibility for our actions is a given in a democratic society.

Answer 6

If it is not accountability, then it is ability to respond.
We should be not just responsible for our actions but for the actions and inactions of others too, if we expect to co-habitate meaningfully on this planet.
Somebody spoiled the ozone layer, are we not going to repair it ?
If no, then we have drilled a hole to sure hell !

Answer 7

If you are an intelligent adult and do not suffer from some kind of mental disorder or brain damage you are totally responsible for your actions.

Answer 8

We are all suppose to be responsible for our own actions, all of them. Though there are always factors determing there outcome.We are ultimatly responsible in the end.

Answer 9

150% out of a 100.

Answer 10

If you are a conservative then 100%
If you are a liberal then 0%

That's the difference in thinking between them.

I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill. - G. Lee