Ultimate Personal Responsibility

Aristotle theorized “that what we do shapes and defines who we are.” [p. 88] The choices we make define us, the idea of ultimate personal responsibility. Aristotle labeled actions as Voluntary: Actions that are under our control like choose left or right, oatmeal or a McGriddle versus involuntary actions that result from constraint or ignorance, he holds that we are not responsible for involuntary actions. [p.86] As I understand from the reading though the definition of involuntary actions are not a free for all, it’s not my fault get out of jail free card for example if you become disabled because you develop type two diabetes, as a direct result of poor dietary choices weather or not you had a predisposition, you are responsible. Culpable negligence you should have known better, you should have chosen more oatmeal and less McGriddles. I know from personal experience ignorance of the law is not an excuse for breaking the law, if you do not know you should seek out

If we are the sum of our parts and our parts include the temperament, we are born with and the character we develop over time as a result of our life experience and choices made. I agree with Aristotle to the extent that our culpability must also be measured against our ability to “know better” for the same reason a 5-year-old is not held responsible for their actions and an eighteen-year-old is so must intelligence or lack thereof be considered an involuntary action. A person with lower intelligence, mental defects or disease cannot be held to the same standards as a person of average intelligence. People should be culpable for their actions if they have the ability to to “know better”. Mental defect or deficit by way of intoxicants however is a choice, you were sober before you got drunk and you knew better before you didn’t. The Athenians offered penalties twice as high for drunken offenders[p87], because they did know