Obedience to Authority - Admission/Application Essay Example

Obedience has been incorporated into the human sociology to transform humans from savagery to civilization. In a few cultures, obedience to certain values, religion, parents, or other authority figure is considered to be the yardstick for measuring behavioral patterns. Still in some cases and situation, obedience to authority deems desirable social behavior, for instance, when teachers or parent intend on civilizing their children and teaching them basic manners. Similarly, hierarchy and obedience of authority figures in an organization is also deemed necessary for achieving the targets and keeping the human resource at an optimum efficiency level. However, extreme cases predicate that unconditional obedience to authority figures, i.e. parents, leaders of states, spiritual leaders or other such figures may not give convincing results. In fact, such an unconditional obedience incorporates negative elements into society where they undermine rationality and rather undertake behaviors deemed desirable by authority figures, no matter how absurd they are in reality. Thus, it may be concluded that unconditional obedience to authority can reap devastating effects not only on the individual but also on the society in general, as experienced historically at repeated intervals of time. Social Oppression on women is one classic example of such a case where the women are manipulated by the social constructs of the society while men consider themselves to be the sole arbiter of authority. However, opponents to the position argue that unconditional obedience is the essence to systematic flow of the state or an institution, without which it wouldn’t be able to function. As discussed above, unconditional obedience must in all cases be questioned, as it is a direct attack on one`s intellectual capacity to take decisions. Though it is agreed that obedience is an essential ingredient to discipline, but at the same time an individual must be equipped with the skill set to question the decision and even defy them if they seem unfit to the human mind. In this context, the concept of male dominance, especially in the Eastern societies where it is incorporated into the minds of the people that men must be given authority to implement decision while women must comply. The entire concept of male dominance in this context is bizarre to a rational individual or rather any individual with even the minimalistic understanding of morality and ethics (Chainault 2011). Yet, hundreds of thousands of lives are suffering since women are not just being oppressed but also beaten and tortured to ensure compliance and to satisfy the male ego. The society is naïve enough to be convinced by the idea that male dominance is crucial to keeping a balance in the society or else women would take over and inflict chaos on the society. The root cause behind the success of this absurd rationale is that such outdated societies or typically underdeveloped states somehow incorporate an essence in the society where one is pleaded guilty by questioning the belief system passed on to him (Blass 2000). Thus, to counter the dilemma, such societies facing such issues must ensure that they are teaching the generations to utilize their sense of rationality prior to seeking obedient behavior. Furthermore, entire states have been rules in the past in the name of unconditional authority to their authority figures. The doctrines of Leninism and Marxism have sought success in the states due to the perception building in the nation that unconditional obedience must be ensured to the authority figures. Thus, only by unconditional obedience were these leaders able to rule for years while engaging themselves in brutal activities throughout. Similarly, Hitler was able to convince the mass civil society of his brutal endeavors by manipulating them into unconditional obedience. In this context, quoting Milgram`s experiment was right in predicting the nature of authoritative obedience inflicted upon people, which sows devastating effects into the entire society. It has more of a trickle-down effect or rather domino effect on the society where if one institution of a society starts preaching or practicing the perils of unconditional authority, eventually the whole society falls prey to it and there is no escape in the end except for devastation of the society. On the other hands, opponents argue that unconditional obedience is the essence to a disciplines institution and state. They argue that in a state, there would be absolute anarchy if there is no central leadership and the nation isn`t willing to blindly follow. Parties run solely on blind followership from their leaders and in turn states are being run by these leaders only when the nation stands behind (Parry 1992). However, this is a rather weak proposition and the American constitution is a classic example on how this is a rather outdated idea. The American constitution is the only source of authority and unconditional obedience only concerns with following the constitution, and not with the authority figures (Blass 2000). Even if the leaders, no matter if it`s the President of the US, defy the constitution the consequences would have to be borne. The same model must be applicable elsewhere to advocate for an intellectually stimulating and a peaceful state. Conclusively, unconditional obedience to authority can reap devastating effects not only on the individual but also on the society in general, as experienced historically at repeated intervals of time. Social oppression against women leading towards under-development is one such example where followers of such belief system are manipulated to extend their unconditional obedience to the men in the society who in turn preach them destructive ideals like torturing women to keep a balance in the society. Similarly, political ideals reflecting brutal behaviors also tend to seek unconditional obedience. Thus, it may be concluded that obedience to authority must be questioned if the individual finds it intellectually absurd. The opponents of the position argue that in absence of obedience, the state would go into anarchy and there would be no discipline. However, this proposition stands to be inherently flawed as state discipline has nothing to do with obedience to figures, rather obedience to systematic institutions like the constitution. Therefore, unconditional obedience must be discouraged in favor of inflicting ideals of peace and prosperity in the society. Works Cited: Blass, Thomas. Obedience to Authority: Current Perspectives on the Milgram Paradigm. Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2000. Internet resource. Chenault, Venida S. Weaving Strength, Weaving Power: Violence and Abuse against Indigenous Women. Durham, N.C: Carolina Academic Press, 2011. Print. Perry, Marvin. Western Civilization: Ideas, Politics & Society. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. Print. Read More