In part 1 of this series, I shared a personal struggle that inspired this reflection on responsibility, intention, and action. Now, let’s delve deeper into this sensitive topic that carries so much weight in our lives, relationships, and societies.
The topic of responsibility and intention holds dear in my heart. I have initiated numerous conversations with those willing to engage, seeking to understand the root of neglecting responsibility, evasion of fault and explain why it matters in every relationship.
From first-hand experience, I understand that when someone avoids taking responsibility, someone else must shoulder the burden of that action, which means bearing responsibility for another’s irresponsibility. Many may resonate with this, as I have often found myself playing the role of the person who has to take responsibility for someone else’s inactions.
We witness a lack of responsibility in different contexts; in the professional setting, when an employee fails to fulfil their task, someone else must step in to complete the work. Outside work, when a child, sibling, spouse, friend, or parent neglects personal responsibility, others around them may feel obligated to step in; this could be a sibling who cleans up after another, a friend who excuses their friend’s behaviour, a spouse or parent who covers their partner’s or child’s mistake, or even a child stepping in for a parent.
These situations depict the ease with which responsibility can transfer from one person to another. This dynamic raises significant questions: to what extent should individuals continue to shoulder additional burdens on behalf of others, and how can we motivate others to assume responsibility for their actions?
What is Responsibility?
Responsibility is a duty associated with our actions. The Cambridge Dictionary defines responsibility as ‘something that it is your job or duty to deal with.‘ This concept refers to an expectation or obligation to act in certain ways to achieve particular outcomes. Responsibility prompts questions such as ‘What do I need to do?’ ‘What is expected of me?’ and ‘What choices must I make in this scenario?’
Responsibility can take many forms, and we can categorise it into direct or indirect. Direct responsibility encompasses duties and obligations we assign ourselves, which stems from past decisions and choices. They are more individualistic, originating from personal decisions made independent of others. These might include personal goals, self-improvement tasks, or commitments we make to ourselves. Direct responsibility could vary from exercising regularly, starting a course to more complex ones like starting a family and raising a child.
In contrast, indirect responsibility involves duties assigned to us by others, typically related to our occupied roles. These responsibilities may result from our social roles, societal norms and expectations, or tasks assigned to us by others. In our professional lives, these might include tasks assigned by a manager or responsibilities that inherently come with our job role. In our personal lives, these could be duties or roles associated with being part of a family or community, like caring for a sick family member. These responsibilities are generally less voluntary and more prescribed by our circumstances or others.
How Does Individual Responsibility Affect The Society Around Us?
Individual responsibility plays a crucial role in every functioning system. From the intricacies of a bustling city to the regimented societies of ants and bees, if a single cog in this machine fails to fulfil its duty, the entire system is at risk. This principle applies to a worker bee gathering nectar as much as it does to a human maintaining essential utilities.
Consider the role of an obstetrician in a local clinic responsible for delivering a baby. A delay or failure in their job can endanger the expecting mother’s life. A visiting surgeon, faced with a coinciding surgical operation, may have to make difficult decisions. If the mother is in distress and the surgeon’s other patient isn’t too critical, the surgeon might extend her schedule to assist with the delivery. The ripple effects of these decisions and outcomes can significantly impact multiple lives.
In the animal kingdom, the roles of workers, soldiers, and breeders in ants, bees, and termites, or hunters, defenders, and babysitters in wolf packs, are all crucial for survival. While it’s often argued that animals lack moral judgment, with actions primarily driven by instinct, nature, and the imperative to survive and reproduce, they still reflect a form of responsibility essential to the survival and reproduction of their species. However, in human societies, the concept of responsibility goes beyond basic survival, involving moral and ethical implications.
As we turn our attention back to human society, we see that acceptance and execution of responsibility are integral to the smooth functioning of our communities. When an individual assumes responsibility, they accept accountability for their actions. This acceptance contributes to trust, fairness, cooperation, and mutual respect for those involved.
Consider two examples of internal dialogue:
- ‘I need to do my job, so that my customers can trust me.’
- ‘If I don’t study my lessons, I won’t pass the exams, and I won’t make OAU. How will I help my family? Thus, I need to study my lessons.’
These examples showcase two individuals with different goals and values. The first person sees the need to do their job well to earn customer trust. The second person contemplates the practical implications of not studying, linking it to their broader life goal of helping their family.
Individual responsibility often starts when one can link their choice to their purpose, as illustrated with the two individuals in the dialogue.
In line with the saying, ‘charity begins at home,’ it stands to reason that one cannot assume responsibility for another without first taking responsibility for oneself. Hence, direct responsibility feeds into indirect responsibility, and in this way, we move from the ‘I’ to the ‘altruistic.’ Personal responsibility can evolve into a broader, altruistic responsibility toward others in our community.
Let us also consider different scenarios involving two adults and a child in varying environments.
If two adults mutually decide to start a family, they share the responsibility for nurturing any children that result from this decision.
There will be expectations for the child to perform some familial roles and for the family members to be responsible members of their community. By becoming part of a society, we inherit responsibilities like understanding and adhering to social norms, being considerate and respectful of others, and contributing to the community. Nonetheless, being a responsible member of society is a continual journey of learning and personal growth, necessitating a commitment to the shared principles of justice, fairness, and mutual respect.
Thank you for reading. As we progress in this series, I encourage you to reflect on your understanding of responsibility. How do you view your responsibilities, and how do they influence your societal roles? Share your thoughts in the comments below. In the next part of this series, we will delve deeper into responsibility, exploring the role of intention, action, and reason and discussing how we can move together as a community.
The winged time traveller 