As human beings, we need and seek accountability; we are driven by the need to know and to be in the know. We rely on the ability to conclude swiftly and truthfully. The more we understand the better grasp we can take about a situation. However, the idea of social responsibility is one that seems to continually be ignored or missed by many. More often than not, the ones we place as a pillar of society are the frequent offenders of this act. Many fail to rise to the occasion and accept accountability for the consequences of their actions while accountability and responsibility fall hand in hand. We must learn to accept responsibly as a community, not only for each other’s actions but ours as well. We learn that one action does, in fact, speak for the whole. Together we will critically evaluate the societal claim that we fail to accept responsibility and accountability due to the impression of community pillars, the morals and ethics we hold, and the effects of the societal social groups. Those often that hold roles with great responsibility are ones we revere with great fervor, from doctors and priests to public figures heads and teachers. We instantly hold these people to a higher standard, compared to that of a cars salesman. We expect these people to make clear level headed decisions and accept the responsibilities that the job or title come with. Driven by the definition of responsibility and the connotations that derive from the term, it is portrayed by Nietzsche as
Our common practice of thinking of others and ourselves as accountable is simply not justified!
Lawrence, Anne (2010). Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics, Public Policy. 13th Edition. McGraw-Hill Learning Solutions, 2010. VitalBook file. Bookshelf.
People often only realize this after the worst occurs. One person’s actions can stop something from going downhill. In class, when we analyzed 60 Minute’s “Bad Samaritan,” through David Cash’s story, we came to realize that indeed, just one person’s actions could make a difference. If David Cash had stopped the violence, Sherrice Iverson would still be alive today. If Hitler chose not to exterminate Jews, the Holocaust would not have happened. The takeaway is that if we expand our universe of obligation, we will feel responsible for more people. In turn, we will help more people, and furthermore, we might prevent something terrible; we might prevent a genocide. Through analyses in class, we realize that more often than not, people have a very limited universe of obligation. In the video which we watched in class of a Gay Teen being bullied, many people in the surroundings of the video ignored the incident. It is clear, that they do not feel obligated to the teenager. Similarly, in Night, Franek simply takes out Eliezer’s crown without any guilt. Franek does not feel obligated to Eliezer. This feeling leads to the division of society. An analysis of Night allows teens to understand the need for an expansion, to create unity and change the world for the
Choices and accountability, not just for each of us individuals but for all of us as a society.”
The theory that I find true to the true nature of moral responsibility and its relation to human freedom and determinism would be compatibilism. Compatibilism is the claim that we are both determined and that we have moral responsibility (Lawhead 120).
Oxford Dictionaries defines the word responsibility as “The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone” (1). From a young age, every person must accept responsibility for decisions that he or she makes. As situations arise that must be dealt with, people have a duty to deal with those situations. In many ways, the act of living itself is an act of ultimate responsibility. In Robert Penn Warren’s classic novel, All the King’s Men, the central characters of the novel all have to deal with the consequences of their actions, although many of the characters try to avoid this solemn duty of life. Through analyzing the actions and inactions of the central characters, many important lessons on responsibility can be derived from the novel.
Although people that are confident enough to take responsibility for their actions and choices know that they are also responsible for the consequences, most people are incapable of seeing what they did wrong and blame the outcome on other reasons. This blame can lead to unjust and immoral consequences that are not deserving of certain people, this can be seen in today’s society.
individual and collective responsibility, or if we lose sight of the fact that the responsibility for
This paper aims to explain the social responsibility theory and give a case study that elaborates on the subject and provide you with a better understanding of what is this theory exactly and how it should be implemented. The first part of the paper begins by explaining the broad concept of social responsibility, and displaying some studies regarding the relationship between social responsibility and the economic performance of institutions, then moves towards explaining two normative theories of media that led to the emergence of the social responsibility theory, the libertarian theory and the technocratic control theory. The paper then talks about the importance of social responsibility theory for the media and press, McQuails summary on the basic principles of social responsibility, and finally discussing briefly some of the strengths and weaknesses of the
Social Responsibility can be “negative,” in that it is a responsibility to refrain from acting or it can be “positive,” meaning there is a responsibility to act. Being socially responsible not only requires participating in socially responsible activities like recycling, volunteering and mentoring, but to actually make it a lifestyle. “But does everyone on earth have an equal right to an equal share of its resources,” (Hardin 365). Only through a commitment to embrace and embed social responsibility into people’s personal value and belief system can people truly become socially responsible in
At the beginning of this course I wasn’t sure what was meant by social responsibility and civic engagement. During this course I realized the meaning of both and the responsibilities that both imply. A definition of social responsibility that I found particularly poignant and concise comes from Entrepreneur Magazine, “Acting with concern and sensitivity, aware of the impact of your actions on others, particularly the disadvantaged” (Entrepreneur Magazine.com). Social responsibility can be as simple as paying your taxes or recycling your glass bottles. Social responsibility can be as complex as finding solutions to global warming or hunger in Africa. You can be personally socially responsible or you can be socially
Is the deception of consumers worth making a profit? The Ford Pinto, popular car of the 1970s, made a profit off of a vehicle that endangered the lives of hundreds of people. In his essay “Pinto Madness” Mark Dowie, author and Pulitzer Prize nominee, exposed the unethical decisions made by Ford Motor Company. When it came to their customer’s safety and profit for the company, Ford made a decision that led to consequences their customers had to pay the price for. Should the business be held accountable for these actions? In his essay “The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profit” Milton Friedman, powerful economist, discusses what a business should prioritize in the economic system. Friedman declares what a business is responsible for and the guidelines they must follow. Due to Friedman’s view, he would not have condoned the actions and decisions that the executives at Ford Motor Company took.
The United States is regarded as the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, yet it’s foundation is one of slavery and moral cowardice. Its society cultivated an environment of fear and distrust. Despite the progression of American society in its stance relative to social responsibility through literature, media and education, social responsibility is an ideal nearly impossible to achieve.
1. Professor Ballistico is the director of the Foodcorp Centre for Food Science at BigCity University. The Foodcorp donated the money to the University in order to set up the research centre and to fund its activities. Professor Ballistico had a recent research which showed the results of the higher risk of the additives. However, the additives in the research were common in the products of the Foodcorp. The main ethical issue is that if Professor Ballistico publishes the results, it is possible that the Foodcorp will go trouble and the funding to the University will be affected. The University relies on the funding. If the results are not published, the responsibility to report the risks of the additives of Professor Ballistico will be
The integrative model of social responsibility, which involves the stakeholder theory and moral minimum theory, and the philosophical ethical theory of utilitarianism are the most responsible approaches to business because they involve the standards of knowing who your actions affect, knowing how to help the most people possible, and knowing how to benefit those who are left out of the positive externalities of a business decision. This paper will discuss the implications of these theories in further depth and will look at a few business cases that demonstrate a failure to meet standards of responsibility.