Personal Responsibility (10 posts)
1. Personal Responsibility
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 5:39 PM/EST
Cat
I frequently hear the phrase "personal responsibility" from both members of this group and persons in the outside world. I am interested to find out what this phrase means to people.
I believe that people are responsible for themselves to an extent. Nonetheless, "personal responsibility" seems to be used as a catchword for "don't bother me" or "I'm doing okay and I don't care if you are or not". In other words, it is shorthand for selfishness and absolution from societal responsibility.
What are your thoughts?
2. My use of personal responsibility
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 6:00 PM/EST
JimP
Good question!
Personal responsibility and accountability are not synonymous. And now, we are about to get into some very difficult areas to define. Some are spiritual in nature.
Peck, in his book "The Road Less Traveled" gives a definition of love that I have found useful. He says that love is the willingness to extend ones self to enable the emotional or physical growth of ones self or another. I add spiritual growth to that, but basically, that's a good definition of love.
So, if we are to love one another, I must be willing to extend myself to enable myself, or you, to grow.
That's personal responsibility, to me at least. I've stated elsewhere that I have a basic belief that we are all a part of a unity. We are connected. I am not healthy if you are sick, or vice versa.
Accountability occurs when you love yourself to take responsibility for your own growth. Then, working together, both of us will synergistically grow in love.
Therefore, I have a responsibility to be aware of your health. I have a responsibility to you, as well as to myself. But, I am accountable only to myself, and my Creator.
I expect that there will be several quite strong disagreements.
3. To Cat
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 6:06 PM/EST
Gayle
Personal responsibility, to me, means taking responsibility for ones own actions, right or wrong. If we make a mistake we don't blame it on an outside entity, we own up and accept the consequences.
Each of us is also personally responsible, at least to a degree, for what happens to us in life. If things aren't going our way it's our responsibility to at least try and figure out what's wrong and attempt to correct matters. Again, we don't blame someone or something for our lives not being perfect.
There are also certain responsibilities to family and society. They are too numerous to list, but I'm sure you have the idea.
4. To Gayle
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 6:13 PM/EST
JimP
Gayle, I think that's closer to accountability. To me, personal responsibility takes on the mantle of being aware of those around me, from neighbor to city, to state, nation and world. I can't directly affect each of these layers, but I can understand that I have a responsibility to consider how my actions do affect them.
5. To JimP
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 6:26 PM/EST
Gayle
I've always seen the two words as being very closely related and somewhat interchangeable. Especially when I think of my children...I was accountable and responsible for their nurturing and their actions, until they reached a certain age.
I'll get back to this later. I'm watching my grandson, who is just waking up from his nap.
6. I'm back...
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 7:03 PM/EST
Gayle
Sorry about having to leave in the middle of that, but when a 7 month old decides he wants his share of the Gerber's, it's time to go.
To me, to be accountable would be defined as being obligated to give an explanation for ones actions. Or...being responsible.
Responsible, on the other hand, is a moral or legal obligation, and also means being accountable for actions undertaken.
At least that's the way I've always thought of and used the words.
7. R vs A
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 10:38 PM/EST
JimP
We aren't far apart, but there are, to my mind, subtle differences.
Responsibility connotes to me that whether it is my own actions, or those of another, I am accountable. Let me give an example from the military.
in the military, you can delegate to a subordinate authority to accomplish some mission or act. You CAN NOT delegate responsibility. So, if the subordinate fails to execute, it is still your responsibility. Similarly, in our discussion, if I am a part of all that is around me, then I am responsible in some measure for that. If my neighbor is attacked and left by the road, it is my responsibility to assist him.
Accountability is accepting the results of one's own actions. If I do not assist my neighbor, I am accountable, at least to myself, for any deterioration in his condition.
Now, obviously an analogy cannot be pushed too far, but I hope you see how I differentiate between the two.
8. To JimP
Tue, Jan 12, 1999 - 11:52 PM/EST
Gayle
We are saying the same thing in different ways, Jim, but you are filling in my last paragraph in Post #3.
Your military example is exactly what I was saying about my children. I can delegate, but I must accept at least some responsibility for any mistakes my underage child makes. Since I have the authority to control (perceived or otherwise) their activities I am ultimately accountable.
You said, "...if I am a part of all that is around me, then I am responsible in some measure for that." This is true, but only if you are in a position to have complete, or at least some, control of a situation.
9. More
Wed, Jan 13, 1999 - /EST
JimP
I agree, only if you are in a position to have ...at least some control of a situation.
At the physical level, that's where we are. However, when one accepts that he is a part of all that is around him (another thread) - "I am a part of It", - then a certain level of responsibility is also a part of it. If I am a part of the environment, rather than its ruler, then I am responsible for it, and accountable also.
That's the spiritual level of responsibility. It isn't one I would think is ready for discussion at this point, or in this thread.
10. Thank you for sharing
Wed, Jan 13, 1999 - 8:56 PM/EST
Cat
Thank you to Gayle and Jim for sharing their concept of personal responsibility. I largely agree with what you've said.
My problem with the phrase is that, too often, people seem to use it to mean that individuals have no responsibility to society. This usage has made me wary when hearing the phrase. Thanks for a different perspective.
Cat
