Why is someone who supports personal responsibility considered "selfish"?

Question

Should people NOT be responsible for their own actions and deal with the consequences of those actions?

Margie---

You have me all wrong baby...

I don't believe in Jesus or the Bible...however I do believe in a "God" so to speak.

I am Independent as they come....and I only have 3 brothers and 1 sister...and yes I keep very good tabs on them.

I believe that we all are in this together and everyone that COULD...SHOULD pull their own weight.

Work hard, contribute what you can, help those that CAN'T, and be nice to each other...and baby...name calling isn't nice.

Answer 1

Absolutely.

I don't see anything selfish about that in the least. In fact, I see the opposite.

Selfish is someone who doesn't take responsibility at all.

Answer 2

If you are truly interested in this, I would suggest you taking a course in the Philosophy of Ethics and International Politics.

Let's say, due to circumstances beyond your control, you are born into poverty. As you grow you fall behind in school, one reason is that your genes do not really support you being very intelligent and the second is that your school is a battle ground or maybe you have no decent cloths to wear and you are just too embarrassed to go. By the time you are 16 you literally have to steal to survive. Still want to take personal responsibility?

Let's now say that I have been born into an affluent household, not rich, just well off. My dad's a doctor and my mom's an attorney; mainly because that is what their parents were. I go to good schools, have plenty to eat, dress nicely, have all the latest phones, music and computer gadgets. By the time I am 16 I have already decided to go to MIT and get a graduate degree in aeronautical engineering. Sure, I'll take personally responsibility!

Do you see the difference? I hope so. Grow and learn, it is what make old people out of young ones. You start realizing that everything can be seen from a different angle.

Answer 3

After contemplating this question, I really don't make a logical connection between the two words. A selfish person could also be personally responsible, and an unselfish person could be personally responsible. A selfish person thinks of him/herself first - or only. A responsible person accepts consequences, and often recognizes when others do not accept consequences; therefore, may be considered judgmental - but not selfish. A responsible person asks what actions he or she can take to do or improve or repair, and yes, even help a situation (' could be for themselves or someone else). However, should a personally responsible person take on all of humanity's problems (like homelessness, illiteracy, etc.)? Of course not, nor should one be considered selfish if they don't. I do believe, along that line of thinking, that more personal responsibility shown by citizens would reduce much of humanity's problems though.

Answer 4

Sometimes the philosophy of personal responsibility manifests as "you're on your own", without regard for circumstances beyond a person's control. When the attitude toward those in need or trouble is that it's their own responsibility to deal with it no matter what, that comes across as "I got mine, go get your own" and it's reasonable to consider that a selfish attitude.

Answer 5

I define selfish as thinking about yourself so much you can't think straight and actually harm yourself and others. A rational self interest is only common sense, intuition. I like to care as much about others as I do myself and vice versa. Humility is defined as thinking "no more of yourself than you have to but think so as to have a sound mind." I usually try to worry about my own responsibilities rather than others. It keeps me happier that way. Descriptive words, rather than judgmental ones are very accurate and scientific. They up our humanity and IQ too. Physics handles consquences. Here's some fun stuff. The paradigm shift.

Answer 6

Because they are acting based on the needs of "self" and not putting other people's needs before their own.

Which, I think, is the reason we're so off kilter -- too many people are paying too much attention to what happens to other people, and nobody is taking responsibility for their own lives and their own choices.

Answer 7

Yes but you don't live here alone. I know you believe in the bible,( your a republican right) You are your bothers keeper. If it wasn't for someone taking responsibility for you, where would you be?

Answer 8

I don't know..those of us who advocate personal responsibility have been called worse than selfish.

Answer 9

No one likes to say it but some people are clearly to dumb to ever take responsibility for themselves . . . P.S. I'm talking about genetic dumbness . . .

Answer 10

you bet ye they should.