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            %LIMITS TO PATERNALISTIC RESPONSIBILITY 870301

     There are limits to responsibility.  It is reasonable
to  hold  someone responsible for the consequences  of  an
action  if  it is obvious to most all people what  natural
consequences  will  inevitably follow  the  given  action;
e.g.,   in pulling the trigger of a loaded gun when it  is
pointed at someone's head.   It is not reasonable to  hold
someone responsible for the consequences of an action when
there  is strong disagreement among informed people before
the  action regarding what the natural consequences of the
action  might  be;  e.g.,  a  doctor prescribing drug  "A"
rather than drug "B" for a  strange and unfamiliar medical
condition.  The nature of responsibility thus depends upon
the level of  certainty regarding the natural consequences
of alternative courses of action.

     It  is  helpful  to encourage people to  respect  and
follow   some  general  guidelines  regarding   attitudes,
desires,   interests,   goals.   It is more  difficult  to
generate  prescriptions  which say what actions should  be
chosen  in  vaguely defined   circumstances  within  which
people's fears,  hopes, aspirations and desires play major
roles.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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