what does it mean to owe?

[sarxweh]

"I owe myself"

"I owe this task to my society..."

"I owe it to love to respond to her honestly"

"I owe my grandfather a death"

"I owe this company its bill"

"I owe my grandeur a reward of humble servitude"

"Owe no man"

"By my troth, I care not; man can die but once... we owe God a death"

" i.o.u. "

Etc.

 

[quatona]

"I owe myself"

"I owe this task to my society..."

"I owe it to love to respond to her honestly"

"I owe my grandfather a death"

"I owe this company its bill"

"I owe my grandeur a reward of humble servitude"

"Owe no man"

"By my troth, I care not; man can die but once... we owe God a death"

" i.o.u. "

Etc.

The examples sound like they are pointing out some kind of obligation.

 

[jacknife]

"I owe myself"

"I owe this task to my society..."

"I owe it to love to respond to her honestly"

"I owe my grandfather a death"

"I owe this company its bill"

"I owe my grandeur a reward of humble servitude"

"Owe no man"

"By my troth, I care not; man can die but once... we owe God a death"

" i.o.u. "

Etc.

obligation.

 

[Paradoxum]

That you are obligated to do or give something.

 

[Gottservant]

It means that which was yours through faith in Jesus Christ, is now something you confuse with what is someone else's through Jesus Christ or the Devil.

The difference being that in one case you will not be expected to repay (at least more than you are able) and in the other case you will be expected to repay more than you are able at least.

It is best not to owe, for when life is over, who repays anything?

 

[PsychoSarah]

Obligation essentially. Although, the strength of said obligation will vary by context, as well as its source. We are obligated to pay taxes by law, for instance, but we aren't obligated by law to help old ladies cross the street. We are obligated by internal morals to help the old ladies.

 

[Tree of Life]

It means that you have something that rightfully belongs to another. Someone or something has a rightful claim on you.

 

[sarxweh]

It means that which was yours through faith in Jesus Christ,

is now something you confuse with what is someone else's

So to feel like I owe something is a "confusion of ownership"

In your example , I own "that which was mine through faith in Christ" (the promises, Christ's inheritance, Sonship, etc.?) And yet to feel that I "owe" something means I have become confused about my ownership of "what is mine in Christ" - obviously since Jesus has erased my "debt"?

Am I understanding you?

The difference being that in one case you will not be expected to repay (at least more than you are able)

and in the other case you will be expected to repay more than you are able at least.

" in the one case" (being the case where I am in possession of Christ) I don't really owe in any meaningful way.

But "in the other case" (being the case where I am confused about or separated from faith in Christ) "even what I have will be taken from me" in the end.

It is best not to owe, for when life is over, who repays anything?

Perhaps "to owe" is itself the opportunity to restore rightful ownership while we yet live; because when we die, we have that opportunity removed.

After life, what it means to owe is a terrible question to answer indeed.

 

[sarxweh]

The examples sound like they are pointing out some kind of obligation.

obligation.

That you are obligated to do or give something.

Obligation essentially. Although, the strength of said obligation will vary by context, as well as its source. We are obligated to pay taxes by law, for instance, but we aren't obligated by law to help old ladies cross the street. We are obligated by internal morals to help the old ladies.

Is obligation the essence or a synonym?

I realize we can feel obligated emotionally/psychologically, mechanically/mathematically, philosophically/theologically, etc.

But given the wide spectrum of examples where we might observe obligation occurring on a mass scale, the question is not of etymology or urban usage.

To what reality does obligation owe its own existence?

 

[sarxweh]

1. It means that you have something that rightfully belongs to another.

2. Someone or something has a rightful claim on you.

1. "I owe it the she-bear to return her cub"

2. "I am my lover's and my lover is mine" (sos6:3)

"Owe-nership" provides the context for obligation?

very interesting. If that is true (which I think I agree with that) we now have to understand "ownership".

The etymology does make it interesting here, since (what im reading seems to say) originally "owe" was synonymous with "ahte" (ought).

What puts the ought in owe? (Or took it out as the case seems to be)

 

[PsychoSarah]

Is obligation the essence or a synonym?

I realize we can feel obligated emotionally/psychologically, mechanically/mathematically, philosophically/theologically, etc.

But given the wide spectrum of examples where we might observe obligation occurring on a mass scale, the question is not of etymology or urban usage.

To what reality does obligation owe its own existence?

The reality of humans being a social species. The idea of owing someone or something aids in social interactions within groups; if humans weren't a social species, chances are the concept would practically be nonexistent

 

[sarxweh]

The reality of humans being a social species. The idea of owing someone or something aids in social interactions within groups; if humans weren't a social species, chances are the concept would practically be nonexistent

What about the bowerbird for example?

http://www.dramafever.com/news/these-birds-attract-mates-with-beautiful-love-nests/

Would you say the male "owes" the female a beautiful nest? What does it mean to be a social species if the bird is not a good example of human obligation?

I find the sociological explanation itself a little dissatisfying since on the surface there are too many comparable examples of obligation on this level among animals, who simply don't recognize the concept of obligation with the sophistication of humanity. (No offence Fido)

The economy among penguins is certainly impressive, but it wouldn't be fare to equate it with humanity's moral or philosophical sensibilities.

I bring up animals so strongly because I don't think it means much to say "social species". At the level you mean, we couldn't have "paychecks" or "popcorn" much less a definition of obligation

 

[jayem]

The human concept of obligation comes from a combination of instinct and learning. An example of the instinctive part would be the maternal bond with a child, or other intrafamily bond. Humans (mostly) have an innate drive to feed, protect, and generally care for members of our immediate family. But we also learn that if we borrow a friend's, or acquaintance's possession, we should return it. Or if someone does a good deed for us, we should do the same. When we ponder and analyze these situations with our big brains, we come with the idea of obligation. It derives partly from instinct (especially in the family context.) And also from learning and acculturation in the larger societal setting.

 

[Paradoxum]

Is obligation the essence or a synonym?

I'm not sure they are synonymous... I think they are just similar. I think 'owe' has an element of 'paying back' in it that 'obligation' doesn't.

I realize we can feel obligated emotionally/psychologically, mechanically/mathematically, philosophically/theologically, etc.

But given the wide spectrum of examples where we might observe obligation occurring on a mass scale, the question is not of etymology or urban usage.

To what reality does obligation owe its own existence?

I don't understand that question.

 

[sarxweh]

To what does obligation owe its existence?

I don't understand that question.

For instance, isn't "free choice" a predicate of obligation? Or perhaps it is the abstract ability of valuation, or systematic knowledge, or the urge for justice

 

[quatona]

To what does obligation owe its existence?



For instance, isn't "free choice" a predicate of obligation? Or perhaps it is the abstract ability of valuation, or systematic knowledge, or the urge for justice

The concept of obligation owes its existence to our need to simplify complex (to a degree that they can´t seem to be handled) matters.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

i hit my thumb with a hammer ......... OWE! it hurts!

 

[sarxweh]

i hit my thumb with a hammer ......... OWE! it hurts!

ha! naught tool stewardship

 

[Paradoxum]

To what does obligation owe its existence?

I'd think, nothing. It's a concept, not an object.

For instance, isn't "free choice" a predicate of obligation? Or perhaps it is the abstract ability of valuation, or systematic knowledge, or the urge for justice

Do you mean 'is free choice a requirement for obligation'? I don't think free will is necessarily required for moral obligation.

I don't know if that answers the question.

 

[sarxweh]

I'd think, nothing. It's a concept, not an object.

Do you mean 'is free choice a requirement for obligation'? I don't think free will is necessarily required for moral obligation.

I don't know if that answers the question.

Well i actually got the idea for free choice from your banner "liberty, equality, solidarity"

Do you see any of those preceding or relating to the concept of obligation?