Social Identity and Moral Responsibility

The societies in which we are raised play a key role in shaping our identities.  However, to say that our societies are what define us is a bit drastic.  Societies set the groundwork for our development.  Some people dedicate themselves to the ways of their society, while others choose to steer in the opposite direction, creating a contrasting persona to that of their society.  I was raised by very open parents.  Two of the most important things my parents drilled into my head as a child were open mindedness and acceptance.   My parents aren’t particularly religious, but from the get-go I was taught to respect and be accepting of religion and was encouraged to explore religions IF I wanted.  This idea of being open minded and accepting has played a huge part in who I am and how I look at things today.  With this simple base provided by my parents I was able to discover the ways of different cultures and develop an opinion of those encounters that was completely my own.  A major defining piece of my identity that I created is my love for sports.  As a child I tried out A LOT of things, anything feasible that I wanted to try out, my parents supported me.  I tried acting and several musical instruments, but when I got into soccer, basketball and softball I knew I was where I belonged.  My love for being a part of a team, pushing myself, and excelling in a sports game is something that came naturally and has taken up 16 years of my life.  Nevertheless, I don’t consider sports to be a massive determining factor in my identity.  I think what defines me as a person is perspective and how I handle real life situations.  My strong opinions and views of life are things that I developed on my own through growth and experience.   What I think and what I do is ultimately who I am. 

                I’m the type of person that just wants to help everyone.  If a stranger is in need and I’m able to help them, I will.   I personally feel like I have a responsibility for others on a human to human level, but to expect this type of behavior from everyone is unrealistic and unnecessary.  Moral responsibility has almost entirely to do with relationships.  If a person has a solid relationship with another person they become morally responsible for that person, friend or relative.  To go the extra mile of assuming moral responsibility for a stranger is admirable but not something to be morally expected to any extent.  For example, someone who had horrible biological parents and has absolutely no relationship with them should not be morally responsible for them.  Relationships are complex and more than just being around a person.  When you have a relationship with someone you care about them and they become a part of you in a sense, so if there is no relationship there’s no real moral basis of why you should be responsible for them.