On Responsibility

What would you do if you had superpowers? In his new movie Hancock Will Smith plays a misunderstood superhero with the aforementioned name. Hancock lives in Los Angeles spending his days drinking and sleeping. He occasionally uses his superpowers to catch a bad guy or to save an old lady. Unfortunately, due to his disheveled appearance and generally inebriated irresponsibility he saves the day gracelessly. While catching the bad guys he accumulates damages to the city which do not ingratiate him to the citizens of Los Angeles. Ultimately, we learn that Hancock's irresponsible behavior is linked to a void in his past. We find that he has lived most of the life he remembers without friends or family. Without ruining the movie, Hancock eventually understands the source of his superpowers and comes to the realization that his superpowers are meant to protect people. Given his unique superpowers he has a responsibility.

When I Googled "Responsibility" it directed me to a website that gives "Tools for Personal Growth". Accordingly they presume personal growth is taking personal responsibility for your actions. Accepting personal responsibility opens up myriad opportunities to "Recognizing that you are your best cheerleader" and "Taking an honest inventory of your strengths, abilities, talents, virtues, and positive points". Conversely, not accepting responsibility results in everything from being "Overly dependent on others for recognition, approval, affirmation, and acceptance" to "Over responsible and guilt ridden in your need to rescue and enable others in your life". Wow, overly dependent while being overly responsible. One better get some personal responsibility and quick!

Personal responsibility is acknowledging that the first person you look at in the morning and the last person you look at before you go to bed is you. Realizing you are the one constant in your life. Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor in his Meditations Book 7 said, "I was once a fortunate man but at some point fortune abandoned me. But true good fortune is what you make for yourself. Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions." My good friend Chris in high school said, "Look man, no one is going to come along and shove sunshine up your ass. You have to make your own decisions." Hardly an eloquent Roman statesman, Chris had the right idea. Responsibility starts with personal responsibility.

However, what about this concept of having a superpower? Or some type of gift that others do not possess? Is it your responsibility to share it with others? Does Hancock have a responsibility to use his superpowers for the good of other people? This brings up the Aristotelian notion of "ought" or moral responsibility (thanks Fr. Schall for teaching me this stuff).

In life, it is always a question of what one "ought" to do versus what one "can" do.

Some would say that Hancock or anyone with a special gift is being irresponsible not sharing it with the community. Gifts are given to humans so that they can be shared to create a better world. Not to do so would in fact be selfish. One "ought" to help.

Others would say that Hancock's gifts are to do with as he pleases. It only hurts him if he squanders his talents by drinking and grabbing at women all day. He "can" help but the world won't miss out if he doesn't since they don't know his talents in the first place.

So I leave it to you. If you were a superhero. If you had the power to fly, the power to lift trains, the power to run the speed of light, ought you use it to help others?

Or, if you had the power of education, the power of luxury, the power of finance, the power of freedom, the power of a vote. What ought you do with these superpowers?