Every day during all our life, we hear that we are to take responsibility for every action. But to bring something into life one should clearly define its profound meaning. Some views on responsibility in the society are too all-encompassing, so that it becomes hard to determine the correct behavior. Being one of the foundations of the man as of a conscious social creature, responsibility does not exist solely by itself but is always considered in a particular context.
In my opinion, responsibility should not be seen as a quality of a person. It more likely defines some of the person’s feelings and reactions. Considering responsibility, one may understand it as a complex notion, which implies the commitment and the sense of duty. Under commitment or readiness for responsibility, I mean the human’s perception of the fact that it is impossible to evade the consequences of his or her actions. As Covey notes, the very notion of responsibility suggests the ability to take a response (86). One just needs to understand that any deed entails inevitable consequences.
For example, if one commits a crime or a legal offense one will face criminal or administrative charges. The offenders may expect that they will be able to evade their responsibility, but this is only their personal subjective position. Committing something without realizing the consequences is an utterly irresponsible act. However, the commitment concerns not only the legal relations within the state. The most important part is the awareness of personal responsibility. If I conduct an outrageous lifestyle, disregard my education or ruin my health, eventually I will face grave and unpleasant consequences. Failure to understand this truth is also irresponsible.
The second aspect of responsibility, as I see it, is the sense of duty, which concerns the relations with other people. There exists a well-known saying that we become responsible for those whom we tamed. It is irresponsible to communicate with people not taking into account their needs, feelings, and emotions that are associated with us. For example, we must feel a moral duty to our elderly parents, to children and to those who under certain circumstances became dependent on us.
Taking responsibility is possible only because of a man’s free will. Many people dream to change something in their life but remain afraid. They want to seek an assurance that their decision will lead to some positive changes. But one should not forget that life gives no guarantees. There is a famous saying usually ascribed to Sigmund Freud. Despite the fact that he did not say exactly those words, they still make sense: “Most people do not really want freedom because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility” (Magee 87).
Without taking responsibility, people will never feel the taste of freedom. Making choice always, without exceptions, is taking responsibility. People should not be afraid of responsibility because it is an inherent characteristic of a free human being. Cultivation of responsibility gives the person a chance to transform the reality and realize his or her full potential.
Thus, I understand responsibility as a general category applicable to several aspects of life. I think that responsibility, in general, involves the understanding of that all our actions will have consequences. At the same time, responsibility is the sense of duty to our family and other people. Responsibility in all its manifestations becomes possible only thanks to the person’s free will.
Works Cited
Covey, Stephen. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 2013. Print.
Magee, Brian. Popper Cb: Popper. New York, NY: Routledge, 2013. Print.