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Values, determinism and responsibility are basic topics that recur with nagging persistence in spite of unpleasant memories of rehashed clichés and pointless meanderings. They recur, however, for very good reasons. No matter how unsatisfactory our answers, the issues exist and require continuous reconsideration.
The key word in our topic is responsibility. It is the main characteristic of what we mean by maturity, and it is also considered to be very square. This nicely ilustrates our dilemma. Because of this atmospheric bias, we may do well to reacquaint ourselves with the word. Its ingredients are response and ability. Ability refers to “being able” to do something, as well as to do it “ably,” that is, well. The English word response is less active than the French répondre or the German antworten, meaning to reply or answer. The German word for responsibility Verantwortung seems to be most appropriate as it means to answer for one's actions. The emphasis is thus on our ability to reply adequately to the challenges of a situation according to our best judgment. It includes the necessities of a given situation as well as an activity of consideration and decision on our part.
When we use the word awareness in relation to responsibility we do not mean self-awareness. We mean a more comprehensive awareness. When we are responsible, we are alive to a situation; we note the given requirements; we are aware of our role in it, aware of our potential contribution, aware of what efforts such action may demand, and aware of potential obstacles and the consequences of our action and inaction. Our evaluation is directed towards the issue, the situation, our evaluation of it, and our plans for it. An analytic self-awareness is always limited.
Analytic self-contemplation is a tool towards greater awareness and responsiveness to the world. While the cure is taken, however, the patient submerges in a partial aspect and loses the larger perspective. It is a problem Freud was well awa