Comparing Erich Fromm's Disobedience As A Psychological And Moral Problem

The right to protest is considered a cornerstone of American civil rights. According to the Cornell Law School, “In traditional public forums, the government may not discriminate against speakers based on their views. This is called “viewpoint discrimination.” The government may, however, subject speech to reasonable, content-neutral restrictions on its time, place, and manner.” However, recent developments have brought athletes and other figures under scrutiny for expressing fringe political opinions. These individuals are a necessity towards societal progression as they introduce issues into the public dialogue. Recent protestors are justified in their disobedience because no other group will attempt to solve these issues. What these protestors lack in authority make up for towards their dedication to the public good. The necessity for disobedience in human civilization is explained in an excerpt of Erich Fromm’s essay, “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem”

Prometheus, in stealing the fire from the gods, lays the foundation for the evolution of man. There would be no human history were it not for Prometheus' ‘‘crime.’’ He, like Adam and Eve, is punished for his disobedience. But he does not repent and ask for forgiveness. On the contrary, he proudly says: ‘‘I would rather be chained to this rock than be the obedient servant of the gods.” (Behrens and Rosen, pp. 683-687)
Fromm argues that the origin of humanity began from one act of disobedience. These origins explain that humanity’s grasp of knowledge allowed them to become independent and ever-changing, capable of facing the dangers of the world without their