Marvin Edwards
Veteran Member
Responsibility is assigned, either by society or by ones own conscience, to the meaningful and relevant causes of some benefit or harm. The responsible causes of a benefit are subject to encouragement. The responsible causes of a harm are subject to correction.
Consider a traffic accident, such as two cars that collide at an intersection. The investigators will attempt to identify the most meaningful and relevant causes, so that the resulting injuries and damages might be avoided in the future. Ideally, to achieve the greatest reduction in future risk, all of the contributing causes should be considered and addressed.
We would consider the traffic controls. Were the traffic signals working? Was the speed limit appropriate for the two roads? And so forth.
We would consider the automobiles. Were both vehicles inspections up to date? Were both in good working order? Did the vehicles have anti-skid braking systems? Etc.
We would consider the drivers. Was either driver intoxicated, taking disabling drugs, or otherwise dysfunctional? Was either driver using their cellphone, or otherwise distracted? Was everyone in the car wearing a seat belt? Did either driver ignore the other car's right-of-way? And so on.
Ideally, we would identify all of the contributing factors, hold each responsible for its part in causing the accident, and attempt to correct them all.
In a similar fashion, we would want to identify all of the contributing causes of a crime, hold each meaningful and relevant cause responsible, and correct them.
Judges, courts, and correctional facilities address the offender, holding him responsible for his actions, and offering him an opportunity to correct his future behavior by participating in rehabilitation programs. But we should not stop there.
We should also address the criminogenic factors in the community that raised the offender, and consider how parents, schools, churches, government, and other social influences can reduce the risk of breeding behavior that causes criminal harm.
Ideally, we would identify all of the contributing factors, hold each responsible for its part in causing the criminal behavior, and attempt to correct them all.
A person may take responsibility for their own actions, according to the discipline of his own conscience. Otherwise, society will assign responsibility to the person, "holding them responsible" for their deliberate acts.
One of my English teachers, Mrs. Vaughn, had a series of plaques on the wall, with wise sayings. The one I remember best is this: "Discipline Thyself, Or the World Will Do It For You".
Consider a traffic accident, such as two cars that collide at an intersection. The investigators will attempt to identify the most meaningful and relevant causes, so that the resulting injuries and damages might be avoided in the future. Ideally, to achieve the greatest reduction in future risk, all of the contributing causes should be considered and addressed.
We would consider the traffic controls. Were the traffic signals working? Was the speed limit appropriate for the two roads? And so forth.
We would consider the automobiles. Were both vehicles inspections up to date? Were both in good working order? Did the vehicles have anti-skid braking systems? Etc.
We would consider the drivers. Was either driver intoxicated, taking disabling drugs, or otherwise dysfunctional? Was either driver using their cellphone, or otherwise distracted? Was everyone in the car wearing a seat belt? Did either driver ignore the other car's right-of-way? And so on.
Ideally, we would identify all of the contributing factors, hold each responsible for its part in causing the accident, and attempt to correct them all.
In a similar fashion, we would want to identify all of the contributing causes of a crime, hold each meaningful and relevant cause responsible, and correct them.
Judges, courts, and correctional facilities address the offender, holding him responsible for his actions, and offering him an opportunity to correct his future behavior by participating in rehabilitation programs. But we should not stop there.
We should also address the criminogenic factors in the community that raised the offender, and consider how parents, schools, churches, government, and other social influences can reduce the risk of breeding behavior that causes criminal harm.
Ideally, we would identify all of the contributing factors, hold each responsible for its part in causing the criminal behavior, and attempt to correct them all.
A person may take responsibility for their own actions, according to the discipline of his own conscience. Otherwise, society will assign responsibility to the person, "holding them responsible" for their deliberate acts.
One of my English teachers, Mrs. Vaughn, had a series of plaques on the wall, with wise sayings. The one I remember best is this: "Discipline Thyself, Or the World Will Do It For You".