Responsibility

FinalEnigma · Post by **FinalEnigma** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:27 pm

Rather than arguing that brains are computers and getting into that debate I have a different approach.

Nothing anyone does, is their fault.

When a human is faced with a choice, they have two categories of variables which go into the decision. Their lifetime experiences, and their genetic predispositions. There are no other sources of variables available.

Now, lets go back way into the beginning of a person's lifetime. Before they have made any decisions, the only thing they have is their experience and genetic predispositions. And no choice they have previously made has affected their experiences because they have not yet made any choices.

1)Are there any sources or variable which go into the decision making process other than experiences and genetics? if so, what?
2)if not, how can a person be responsible for any action(positive or negative) that they take?

FinalEnigma · Post by **FinalEnigma** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:08 pm

Well, I reach the conclusion of no responsibility because you cant logically be blamed for your genetics. or your experiences either. so if those are the only factors which shape your decisions...

nygreenguy · Post by **nygreenguy** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:56 pm

FinalEnigma wrote:Well, I reach the conclusion of no responsibility because you cant logically be blamed for your genetics. or your experiences either. so if those are the only factors which shape your decisions...

Sure we can! We are all expected to learn from our mistakes!

FinalEnigma · Post by **FinalEnigma** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:43 pm

nygreenguy wrote:
FinalEnigma wrote:Well, I reach the conclusion of no responsibility because you cant logically be blamed for your genetics. or your experiences either. so if those are the only factors which shape your decisions...
Sure we can! We are all expected to learn from our mistakes!

Apologies for taking so long to respond.

So we are expected to, and do, learn from our mistakes. how does this effect anything?

we can learn from mistakes yes, but that is just more experience. Its all external stimulus. I find that a lot of people when presented with my argument agree with me straight through...until I say "therefore humans cannot be held responsible for their actions."

I'm not going to speculate as to why this is, but I am curious. If you accept biological determinism, then how can a person be to blame for their actions? All the stimulus to a persons decisions and therefore all responsibility for them, is based upon factors external to the person's self.

What I mean is, if you can't blame me for my experiences, and you can't blame me for my genetics, then how can you blame me for my decisions, which are based only upon experiences and genetics(and, if you like, mind control)?

PS Remember, I'm not trying to justify anything with this. it is purely philosophical.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:51 pm

FinalEnigma wrote:Well, I reach the conclusion of no responsibility because you cant logically be blamed for your genetics. or your experiences either. so if those are the only factors which shape your decisions...

nygreenguy wrote:Sure we can! We are all expected to learn from our mistakes!

FinalEnigma wrote:So we are expected to, and do, learn from our mistakes. how does this effect anything?

we can learn from mistakes yes, but that is just more experience. Its all external stimulus. I find that a lot of people when presented with my argument agree with me straight through...until I say "therefore humans cannot be held responsible for their actions."

I'm not going to speculate as to why this is, but I am curious. If you accept biological determinism, then how can a person be to blame for their actions? All the stimulus to a persons decisions and therefore all responsibility for them, is based upon factors external to the person's self.

What I mean is, if you can't blame me for my experiences, and you can't blame me for my genetics, then how can you blame me for my decisions, which are based only upon experiences and genetics(and, if you like, mind control)?

PS Remember, I'm not trying to justify anything with this. it is purely philosophical.

I agree. Blame is such a waste of time and energy. It is pointless.

However, it would not be prudent to trust a person who has shown that he has an inability to learn from his mistakes. Right?

FinalEnigma · Post by **FinalEnigma** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:03 pm

Oh, of course. I'm not saying just because you cant blame someone for things that means you have to be an idiot.

nygreenguy · Post by **nygreenguy** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:42 pm

FinalEnigma wrote:Oh, of course. I'm not saying just because you cant blame someone for things that means you have to be an idiot.

Im still struggling with your conclusion.

Everyone is taught right and wrong (experiences) so I dont see how they cant be to blame for this actions.