In what ways do you believe we are responsible for eachother as members of society?

Welcome to Fluther.

In short, I don’t agree.

I think we owe others a basic civility and space – freedom, if you will – to be, to do and to have the things that they want, when we’re not actively competing for the same things. And a certain agreement to play by a standard set of cultural and legal rules in striving for the same scarce things.

But ultimately we’re not “responsible” for each other.

It’s definitely a good question to lead with. I hope you’ll stick around.

I think we are responsible for each other in that we should help those in need. I think that sense of community is lost on a lot of us.

Promote the general welfare is in the preamble of the Constitution for good reason- by caring for each other our own lives are improved.

When one person suffers, when others are not free, then we all suffer and no one is free. Our own happiness and freedom is dependent upon that of others. Otherwise, those “others” will fight to have what they do not.

One thing I learned long ago—it doesn’t take a village to do something that is the responsibility of the individual, like raising kids or getting an education. Provide for yourself, the rest will follow.

I’m going to sum up my personal, individual views on this subject in an easily digestible soundbyte: I would gladly die for someone else, but I wouldn’t live for them.

Take from that what you will. My views on the subject in a grander, public context are mixed and I’d rather not discuss them at this time.

I think that we have some responsibility to stand up for the weak against the strong. For example, I don’t think we should let children be hurt by adults.

I think we have a responsibilty to consider the effect our actions have on others. For example, we should recognize that if we pollute water running through our property it may impact our downstream neighbors and we should take steps to address the issue.

I think we have a responsibility to provide care for our offspring.

I think we have reponsibility to live in accordance with the expectation we have of others. Call it social contract, or karma, or the Golden Rule.

I think it is our responsibility to provide everyone (including ourselves) with the basic necessities of life: air, water, food, shelter, and medicine. I’d argue for Education too, though it’s not a physical necessity. I think it is also our responsibility to protect the systems which allow us access to these things so that our children and their children can also enjoy them.

If we think of ourselves as members of society then it follows that we do have a responsibility towards others. The first responsibility is to leave others alone to get on with their lives as they see fit. The second responsibility is to be prepared to help others who need it. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. Both are true.

@flutherother You said it for me.

Great Answer @flutherother

I always try to put myself in other’s shoe and see what I would have wanted to be done for me,and do it, and I don’t beleive that it is too much to expect the same done for me.

(I would want someone to tell me I’d misspelled “believe.”)

English isn’t my first language so I don’t really worry as much about my misspelled words, but thanks anyway ; )