Friday, October 30, 2009
Response to Milgram Experiment
I believe that the Milgram Experiment was an extreme example of suggesting that authority based on social recognition undermines an individuals ability to question or change rules. These individuals were placed in a laboratory setting and were one on one with an authoritative figure. These subjects were most likely intimidated and confused. The were a part of an experiment and were being ordered to follow instructions. Since they were a part of this experiment, I believe that many of them felt as though they themselves were not responsible for the pain being inflicted on the people on the otherside of the glass. This is idea of such emphasis being placed on on teh social recognition of authority does not hold true in our society today. If there are unjust laws or pieces of legislature, our population rises up against the government to fight for what they believe in. Just by looking at the number of political rallies, protests, and demostrations in our country today, it is very obvious that we are not content with following laws just because an autoritative figure demands that we do. I beleive that Raz's suggestions that people do not need to believe in the justness or morality of a law in order to follow it is completly off the mark. If anything, people will follow unjust or immoral laws becuase of the fear of the imposed sanctions, not becuase of what some lawmaker is telling them. Our society has been successful in many demonstrations such as the civil rights movement, the feminism movement, and the constant strides that unions make for the blue collar working population. We are not a society that will blindly follow an authoritative figure.
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I certainly agree with you that flaws may be present in Milgram's experiment and that many individuals are simply not docile and voiceless--when they are upset or feel wronged, they show it. I still think, though, that there has to be some form of social recognition in order to ensure a cooperating society, that is, if everyone voiced and were adamant about their own opinions cooperation would never occur. So, yes, individuals do have voice and should not always recognize authority--especially if it is a form of injustice--but, yes, some recognition has to be there to ensure cooperation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that i buy that American society will not blindly follow an authority figure. There are many cases when, though not legally mandated to do so, people follow the order of authorities such as police simply because of the role they play in society.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that we are not a society that would blindly follow an authoritative figure. However, I just keep thinking about the book "Animal Farm" where the animals reject their old rulers to blindly follow new ones.
ReplyDeleteIn America, we do have freedom of speech. People speak out against laws they find unjust and blog about leaders they don't trust. With constant conversation about government, our society is definitely less likely to blindly follow an authoritative figure.
The Milgram Experiment is a good example where authority overrides personal freedoms because the people would continue to push the button because the scientist in charge told them too. They completely disconnected themselves from the fact that they were the ones potential shocking the person in the other room. People continue to turn the voltage up even though they knew it was wrong because a person in authority told them to. I agree with you that people cannot be in full compliance with authority. If a law is unjust or there is an injustice occurring in the U.S. then people should protest and rally to get that law changed. The power of the public is the foundations on which this country was built.
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