To establish subjective responsibility, several elements need to be considered, including:
1. Volition: The individual must have had the capacity to choose between different courses of action. They must have had the freedom and ability to make a decision, rather than being compelled or coerced into committing the action.
2. Knowledge and Intent: The individual must have known that the action was morally wrong or harmful. They must have had the intention or purpose to commit the action, understanding the consequences of their choice.
3. Absence of Justifiable Excuses: The individual cannot have any valid or justifiable excuses that could mitigate their responsibility. For instance, if a person commits a harmful act under duress or due to a mental disorder, their subjective responsibility may be diminished or negated.
When these elements are satisfied, an individual is considered subjectively responsible for their actions. This means they are held morally accountable for the choices they have made, recognizing their capacity for moral judgment and their deliberate decision to act in a way that deviates from accepted moral norms.
The concept of subjective responsibility plays a crucial role in criminal justice and moral philosophy. In legal systems, it is often considered a necessary condition for holding individuals liable for their actions and imposing punishment. Subjective responsibility helps ensure that individuals are not held accountable for unintentional or unavoidable actions, and it emphasizes the importance of individual choice and moral agency in determining moral culpability.