Monday, January 16, 2012
Fromm--Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem
I've found a full text copy of Fromm's article for Wednesday's reading, so here is the link to "Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem." What do you think of this idea that, according to the mythology of many cultures (keep in mind that by "mythology," Fromm means "a system of beliefs"), the human race began through an act of disobedience? Does this change the way you feel about disobedience vs. obedience? Can you think of any other important historical events that began with acts of disobedience?
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As I was reading this, The thought popped into my head, Do people obey just to feel accepted into society? During the civil rights movement, black people obeyed white people because they knew that was the only way to live. They lived in fear knowing that if they disobeyed, the punishment would be a lot worse than working for white people. Did they obey just to feel accepted? even though they weren't entirely accepted back then?
ReplyDeleteHey kim reading your questions I feel like that people obey to feel good about themselves not to be accepted to be in the society because who cares what people think about you and how you obey to the society because the only one who cares is our father in heaven and that is the only person I am trying to impressed in this world. Also black people obey whites because that was there only choice till Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks stepped in. so no blacks did not do it to feel accepted because they were already accepted besides whites being greddy and ignorant.
DeleteNo Not necessarily bri, The blacks weren't excepted back then. They Obeyed the white owners because it was either that, or die. The strong majority of america did not except black people. But of course things changed and are alot better now because everyone is excepteed and there is no such thing as slavery in america anymore. And I think your both right in the sense of why people obey because some people obey to be excepted and some people obey because they feel it's the right thing and feel good about themselves.
Deleteroman v
Deletei agree with luke when he points out that blacks werent excepted in society back in the days of slavery. They were in their own community but outside of that they were just property to their owners. Sad but true
When I read where he pointed out that many people believe that the human race began as an act of disobedience, it made me stop and think "hmmm...". He brought out a good point, that sometimes disobedience to authority can be a good thing. The American Reovolution began as an act of disobedience. The colonies refused to pay the taxes imposed on them and a revolution began that changed the world.
ReplyDeleteI think that having the free agency to choose whether or not something is good, or good for you is a healthy way to look at things. If we always obey our "authoriarian conscience", than we are never really free to choose for ourselves. We are subject to imprisonment of our own minds, in fear of disobeying the authoritarian voice. If we are able to choose for ourselves and think with our "humanistic conscience", it is much more fulfulling to know that we have chosen for ourselves. In other words, for me, being able to see the big red button, helps me to know I am human and it's better for me to have the choice, rather than never having sight of my own weakess's and going through my life obeying my conscience because someone told me to do it that way.
ReplyDeleteI think a major historical event that began with disobedience was the Rosa Parks movement. She disobeyed and didn't move because she believed in what she was doing. That act of disobedience started something great for African Americans and it was a very important historical event that eventually turned into something positive because of all the acts of disobedience.
ReplyDeleteHer movement had also sparked the civil rights movement which has helped bring equality and cohesiveness in a diverse environment.
DeleteReading disobedience from Fromm was very good. I learned about the varieties of obededience on how it can be life affirming. I stopped and thought what does fromm mean by that obedience is a virture? and how is disobedience a vice? And does super-ego have to be part of the obedience and disobedience or is it Fromm perspective on disobedience as a psychological?
ReplyDeleteThat really is something good to think about. Because if you beleive in adam and eve and them eating the forbidden fruit then yes our world today did come from disobedience. Which is why it can be a good thing. It all depends on if what your suppose to do is good or bad. Not alot of other situations where something good came from disobedience popped into my head. What ones did you guys think of?
ReplyDeleteroman v
Deleteone situation that stands out in my head would have to be the colonies rebeling or being disobedient to the crowns taxes which lead to the american revolution and was the starting point for the greatest country in the world.
USA USA USA!
I can think of Rosa Parks when she stood up for herself on that bus. Yes, she disobeyed, but look at the fruit of her resistance. Her actions gave a lot of courage to fellow African-Americans. At that time, society thought it was right to be prejudice, but disobedient acts from Parks and others helped revolutionize our society today. Fascinating events I tell you!
ReplyDeleteroman v
Deletei agree completely with you about how rosa parks disobedience changed our society for the better.
"If a man can only obey and not disobey, he is a slave; if he can only disobey and not obey, he is a rebel (not a revolutionary); he acts out of anger, disappointment, resentment, yet not in the name of a conviction or a principle" (Fromm). I found this interesting. What do you think he means by this quote? Do you agree?
ReplyDeletemy question to all of you is does music in a sense disobey society while at the same time shape it?
ReplyDelete^that was roman v
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