individual responsibility

to: letters@guardian.co.uk

Sir,
"It could be argued that the notion of responsibility is
always a kind of convenient fiction we adopt to make the world manageable.
Human actions may appear and feel free, but they are just as much the
result of blind forces of nature as rising tides and falling leaves. That
may be true, but as the late philosopher Pete Strawson emphasised, human
life is not possible unless we treat people as though they were free and
responsible for what they do. .... Like so much of life, what is not
ultimately fair or philosophically defensible is sometimes nevertheless
indispensable."
(Thus Julian Baggini in The Guardian, G2, page 25, 14.03.06)

With respect, this seems to me about as dangerous
double-think as it is possible to meet.: "keep the truth from the people, it's best for them - or at least for us". What Julian Baggini implies is, that
if we are to continue our present ways, we must do so because we cannot
conceive differently, even if logic and equity are against us. But we can.
Clearly if we accept , truly accept, the possibility that we are "automatic", like
everything else in nature - and not to do so suggests our usual sin
of hubris, blindness in own case - then everything changes.....and
changes in accordance with the laws and logic of ever-unfolding nature.
Would this necessarily be so bad ? If we are not responsible for our thoughts,
emotions and acts, then we can only feel compassion for one another
in our various confusions. Should we find that we then as a species accept
that violence between one another is completely unacceptable, as i
imagine we shall, we may find living in accordance with our best understanding is the key to happiness on earth, and our re-union in the womb of nature.

I have for over 25 years contended that our species is at this
present time living through its central age-change. After discovering more or less how everything works and instituting a system of global intercom, we only have to come to our senses, to enter our mature, optimal form.
Losing our illusion of independence, we gain togetherness in admiring
the wonder of the whole, which a united global mentality operating in
the heads of countless individuals all with differing experience and expertise
may understand far better than at present.

Of course, as bad news sells better than good, and the
supervisers of the present order fancy their privileges, it is difficult to
arouse public interest in such a great change - yet great longing is
expressed for some such in many and various places every day. It may be
scheduled by blind nature to surprise us - enjoyably.