a question beyond all others..?

Question

are we responsible for each other..????????

amby..dont give up!

amdby..my kids heroin? used to mean a female hero?

friend of hess... is that rudolph the red nosed rienmydear, or rudulph the nuremburg trials HESS.???

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

As a Buddhist I believe in Action leading to Consequence. This has some basis in academia as scientists now believe that physical forces occurring in one place can have consequence in another place.

The basis of Buddhist belief is that were I to do something to cause someone else to experience suffering of some kind, then that action will eventually have negative consequences for me either in the short or long term. The reason is that the thought processes that began the original action will not have changed over time because I would not feel the need to change my attitudes and that eventually I will have the same compulsion to repeat that action. Eventually my negative actions would have a compound effect on those that I come into contact, perhaps I would get a bad reputation or my work colleagues would ignore me or worse. This then is the consequence of my own actions. My own unhappiness or suffering...follow me...?

It would be reasonable to expect then that if I were to do a good action for someone else then it would have the opposite effect and there is a good chance of a positive consequence. Whether that be a happier environment at work, home or the like...follow me..?

In this repect then we are in fact responsible for each other, in that we are responsible for our own happiness both in the immediate and further future by being responsible for our own actions and the inevitable consequence of those actions.

In short then Yes. We are responsible for each other.

Peace my friend from a Buddhist...in the season of Joy...

Answer 3

I recently heard a theory that said that we, collectively, are God. I find the idea fascinating and have been pondering it ever since. It that would be the case - that we exist as a group simply because we will it to be so, then it may very well be important what others do. Only in that context can I believe that maybe what another person believes affects my life.

Without that theory I would say absolutely not - we are not responsible for each other and will not be judged by the actions of another...and yet on Earth, Americans will be judged for what the president has done - and we as voters are the ones responsible for him coming to power (unless something really was falsified).

We also seem to have a deep seated feeling of responsibility to help one another, don't we. It's a good question, and when I sat down to answer it I was thinking no - but the more I talk, the more I wonder.

Peace!

Answer 4

Those who answered 'no' are tragically clueless about how humanity operates, and are probably republicans. Human beings live in social groups, and *by definition* are responsible for each other. It starts with your immediate family and expands from there. The Golden Rule (which predates any so-called 'holy scripture' in the world) should apply to all living things as well as to the planet itself, because we *do* depend on each other, all the way to the smallest bacterium.

Even if this were not true, who would want to live in an utterly selfish (in the short term, but in the long term just the opposite), dog eat dog, the hell with any consequences, libertarian nightmare, where we would always have to assume the worst about each other and could never trust anyone? Not me!

Answer 5

In what way?

I'm not responsible for an evil that a stranger causes. Unless I caused him to do it by my actions.

Though there is an arguement that evil occurs because good men stand by and do nothing. So really, responsible for others is a loaded question.

If I see a child being beaten up by an adult, because I am witness to this, I feel I have an ethical responsibility to intervene.

However, if we were responsible to do this for everybody no matter where, we'd all die from stress and exhaustion quite quickly. We can be responsible for each other's safety in our actions. We are not responsible for other people's morals, or their eating habits, or sexual habits.

Think deeper about where you want this question to go when you add details. It's a bit of a minefield!

Answer 6

Outstanding Question - very thought provoking as it can create a debate and with it awareness and enlightenment.

Generally speaking, society assumes this responsibility by way of developing and enforcing law and order as well as the supporting societal needs (garbage removal, licensing, regulations, speed limits, medical care, education, etc.). This activity is all funded through tax dollars and thus reaffirms the idea that big brother is watching you, and when you make a mess of it, we'll set you straight either through social assistance programs, reeducation, or prision.

Thanks for the question ... you've got me thinking more about this...

Answer 7

only if you accept a position of authority and responsibility. we all have a job description, but responsibility for others is not written in the one we are born with. Celebs and overpaid sportsmen could be accused of carrying this responsibility, as they are paid enough to be role models for the youth: soccer stars on £40k a week who can't behave on the pitch inevitably influence kids, and this is their fault. Kate Moss will definitely increase smoking cigarettes amongst teenage girls (earned £30m last year) and her boyfriend Pet Doherty is hugely influential. His heroin addiction cannot possibly have a good effect on teenagers. As a teacher (earning £36k a year) I constantly strive to set a good example, but these billionaires couldn't care less.
There, that's that off my chest. happy new year.

Answer 8

I just answered a question quoting "For Whom the Bell Tolls" with which I'm sure everyone is familiar, at least with the last line!
It applies here as well. I "assumed" you meant responsible for being humane, caring persons, not as some of the answers indicated they interpreted it--like not being responsible for other people's actions! To be brief, what goes around comes around, & "silly" as that may sound to some, it's true.

Answer 9

Yes and no. It depends on the context. Life can get awfully complex. So I'd say we are in some situations, depending on the relationship, but being that 'we' , especially as individuals are helpless to stop everything from occuring, we can't possibly be responsible for all, nor do we always have the capability to convince someone to stop doing what we don't want them to.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

Answer 10

I don't see how this can be a question. I suppose it depends on if your a pavement worm picker upper or not. I don't like to think that we aren't. That could mean that humanity ditches everything for a night up the pub and a game of pool. Beer passes through the system really quickly and a game of pool is just the loss of odd balls down symmetrical holes with no real outcome.

Answer 11

HI that's a big NO sorry but your totally responsible for your action and me not not going to share in your follies your responsible you alone and caring is not being responsible that's an individual thing everyone is responsible only to them selves you included