Social responsibility

Social responsibility is a doctrine that claims that an entity whether it is state, government, corporation, organization or individual has a responsibility to society. This responsibility can be "negative," in that it is a responsibility to refrain from acting, or it can be "positive," meaning a responsibility to act.

There is large inequality in the means and roles of different enitities to fulfill their claimed responsibility. This would imply the different entities have different responsibilities. E.g. that states should ensure the democratic rights of its citizens, that corporations should respect and encourage the human rights of its employees and that citizens abide with the written laws. But it also can be more than just that. Many NGOs mean that their role and the responsibility of their members as citizens is to help improve society by taking a proactive stance in their societal role. It can also imply that corporations have an implicit obligation to give back to society. See more under corporate social responsibility.

Criticism of the doctrine of positive responsibility

Many, particularly libertarians, assert there is no "social responsibility" to do anything, but to refrain from doing. They argue that social responsibility only exists to the extent that an individual or business should not initiate physical force, threat of force, or fraud against another. In his famous article The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Profits, Nobel economist Milton Friedman asserts that business has no social responsibility other than to increase profits and refrain from engaging in deception and fraud. He maintains that when business seeks to maximize profits it almost always incidentally does what is good for society. Friedman does not argue that business should not help the community but that it may indeed be in the long-run self-interest of a business to "devote resources to providing amenities to ^* community..." in order to "generate goodwill" and thereby increase profits.

Elements of Social Responsibility according to Poll

recognition and acceptance of the consequences of each action and decision one undertakes
caring attitude towards self and others
sense of control and competence
recognition and acceptance of individual and cultural diversity
recognition of basic human rights of self and others
the ability to be open to new ideas, experiences, and people
understanding of the importance of volunteering in social and community activities
ability to engage in experimentation with various adult roles
development of leadership, communication, and social skills

Some one liners on social responsibility

References

Roselyn K. Polk Social Responsibility
Berman, S. (1997). Social Consciousness and the Development of Social Responsibility. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Berman, S., & La Farge, P. (1993). Promising Practices in Teaching Social Responsibility. New York: State University of New York Press.
Greenberger, E. (1984). Defining psychosocial maturity in adolescence. Advances in Child Behavioral Analysis and Therapy, 3, 1-37.
Hanks, M. (1981). Youth, voluntary associations and political socialization. Social Forces, 60(1), 211-223.
Youniss, J. & Yates, M. (1997). Community Service and Social Responsibility. University of Chicago Press: Chicago.
Youniss, J., McLellan, J. A., & Yates, M. (1997). What we know about engendering civic identity. American Behavioral Scientist, 40(5), 620-631.

External links

Some groups of professionals have defined their own intrinsic social responsibilities. Here are some examples:

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Social responsibility

Criticism of the doctrine of positive responsibility

Elements of Social Responsibility according to Poll

See also

Some one liners on social responsibility

References

External links