responsibility

What does it mean to take responsibility?

If we say there is a basics of responsibility, what else do you take responsibility for outside of the basics? what do you value the most, that you feel that you should take responsibility for? and what would be the meaning of that responsibility?

An ability to present a response to the perception of value?

mannequin wrote:

An ability to present a response to the perception of value?

Taking responsibility is not just about the ability to - but it is the following through/the acting on that perception in the present moment (yes, present moment lol) that "something must be done" - as in the case when you see a child drowning. You respond by hopefully saving that child.

Taking true responsibility comes with a sense, with the knowledge, that it is both a rational and reasonable act to respond in such a way.
In other words, if you can swim, you can hopefully save the child. If you can't swim, it's both irrational and [irre]sponbileto respond.

Quote :

An ability to present a response to the perception of value?

Value and meaning always come before it - otherwise, it's acting irresponsibly. It could be seen as acting in an ethical way.

What makes one's response that of saving a drowning child?

Responsibility is taking charge of one's on own choices and obligations, accepting the possible ramifications.

mannequin wrote:

What makes one's response that of saving a drowning child?

Why would one respond to saving a drowning child? For one, the realization that that child hasn't lived for so long a time and deserves to.
For two, that that child is an innocent.
For three, depending on how one values life with its ups and downs, that life at times is still worth living and for that saved child it may be even more worth living than for others.
And who knows, that child may grow up and be itself responsible for saving many others - and/or may be a Mother Theresa or an Albert Schweitzer or a ______________________ (place name there).

I'm only responsible for that which was or is, to a certain extent, under my control. Control means both, 1) being able to make a choice and 2) affect the situation. Control is the primary condition of being responsible, as Arc pointed out, it's a condition that you know how to swim before you jump into the river to save a child.

The degree/extent to which one is responsible depends on how closely involved I am with it, to what degree my own actions caused it. The degree of control/personal involvement/causation is proportional to the degree of responsibility.

I don't feel responsible for other people's children drowning if I didn't cause it, even if I could have saved them. That's not to say I wouldn't save a stranger's child if I could, just that I wouldn't feel responsible for it if I chose not to.

I would feel responsible for my little brother if he was drowning, even if I didn't cause it, because he is closely related to me and I have control/authority over him to a certain extent.

Authority entails responsibility over the one being governed because you reduce their personal choice/control over themselves in order to increase your own control over them.

Arbiter of Change wrote:

I'm only responsible for that which was or is, to a certain extent, under my control. Control means both, 1) being able to make a choice and 2) affect the situation. Control is the primary condition of being responsible, as Arc pointed out, it's a condition that you know how to swim before you jump into the river to save a child.

The degree/extent to which one is responsible depends on how closely involved I am with it, to what degree my own actions caused it. The degree of control/personal involvement/causation is proportional to the degree of responsibility.

I don't feel responsible for other people's children drowning if I didn't cause it, even if I could have saved them. That's not to say I wouldn't save a stranger's child if I could, just that I wouldn't feel responsible for it if I chose not to.

I would feel responsible for my little brother if he was drowning, even if I didn't cause it, because he is closely related to me and I have control/authority over him to a certain extent.

Authority entails responsibility over the one being governed because you reduce their personal choice/control over themselves in order to increase your own control over them.

I was actually seeing responsibility from a different perspective - as in our capacity to respond to a given situation any given situation - not necessarily from the viewpoint that we feel "obligated" or not, responsible or not.

The word RESPONSE ABILITY.
It has more to do with who we are as individuals -more in line with ethical behavior.,,perhaps.