Digest of terms

responsibility

ownership of what is said and done by an individual or wider agency. This may be qualified by a variety of contributory factors, but these do not 'explain away' the element of decision which rests with the person(s) speaking or acting. 'Respond-ability' is a capacity which is strongly emphasised in moral education as intrinsic to personal identity. The importance of other determinants, whether psychological or sociological, is also acknowledged, but their magnification to the status of exonerating circumstances is seen as potentially dehumanising.