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Analysis Of Disobedience As A Psychological And Moral Problem By Erich Fromm

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In 1963, tension in America and the surrounding world was at an all-time high. The Cold War between the Soviet Union and USA was reaching its fever pitch with both nations seemingly just one ill-placed step away from the world’s first potential full-fledged Nuclear War. With this, along with the 13-day long game of chicken between the US and USSR that was the Cuban Missile Crisis at the end of 1962, on his conscience, historian and sociologist Erich Fromm wrote “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem.” In his article, Fromm argues that since the dawn of time, humans’ ability to be disobedient has been the driving force of human evolution from the Stone Ages to modern society, and that if any one force is powerful enough to terminate civilization, humankind’s tendency to be obedient by default may be it. Fromm proves the dangers of obedience by referencing the genesis of man, the differences between teacher and slave master, and time-proof arguments, but despite being built on a …show more content…

The level of success the slave master achieves is dependent on how much he can withdraw from the slave through exploitation. On the other hand, the slave’s level of success is judged strictly on how much he can give the slave owner, and his own personal progression, happiness, or goals are irrelevant in the slave masters eyes. He is only judged by the level he is willing to give the slave master – regardless of his own well-being. It is the simplicity and brevity of this comparison that makes it an extremely potent argument. In the complex world that we live in, it would be easy to get caught up in the “what-ifs” that give any interaction context. Yet, Fromm finds an efficient way to cut-through all of them and get to the core of what makes obedience “rational” or “irrational.” This formula can be used to examine any relationship, regardless of the environment they exist

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Douglass uses paradox to demonstrate that slavery degragrates the slaverholder. When Douglass under Mr. Sever’s care he described that: “He was less cruel, less profane… He whipped, but seemed to take no pleasure in it. ”(Douglass 24). Most slaveholders are characterized to be cruel and inhuman because of the whipping and the way they treated the slaves.

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The Portrayal of Slavery in Antebellum Louisiana in Solomon Northup’s Twelve Years a Slave In his memoire Twelve Years a Slave, illegitimately enslaved Solomon Northup does not only depict his own deprivations in bondage, but also provides a deep insight into the slave trade, slaves’ working and living conditions, as well as religious beliefs of both enslaved people and their white masters in antebellum Louisiana. Northup’s narrative is a distinguished literary piece that exposes the injustice of the whole slaveholding system and its dehumanizing effect. It is not a secret that the agriculture dominated the economy of antebellum Louisiana (Louisiana: A History 183). Therefore the Southern planters needed relatively cheap workforce to cultivate

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Rebellions can drive people out and can lead to many other people dying for not cause at all and to be shown with no improvement in our social progress as a whole. In conclusion, Oscar argues that disobedience is a valuable human trait and that it promotes social progress and also how rebellion and disobedience can lead to positive changes in the economical and social viewpoint. It can help learn from history and help us expand our way of mind and people can learn a few new things from it also. It many lead down a pathway in which it improves lives as well our society for positive changes and help us unite with other people to fight what in we believe

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In the 1700-1800’s, the use of African American slaves for backbreaking, unpaid work was at its prime. Despite the terrible conditions that slaves were forced to deal with, slave owners managed to convince themselves and others that it was not the abhorrent work it was thought to be. However, in the mid-1800’s, Northern and southern Americans were becoming more aware of the trauma that slaves were facing in the South. Soon, an abolitionist group began in protest, but still people doubted and questioned it.

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Through his story, Douglass proves that slavery has negative effects on slaveholders. He uses imagery, flashbacks, and characterization to persuade the reader of the true nature of slavery. His deep thoughts and insights of slavery and the unbalanced power between a slaveholder and his slave are unprompted for a social establishment. Douglass insists that slaveholding fills the soul with sadness and bitter anguish. In addressing effects of slavery on masters cause one man to rethink his moral character and better understand the laws of humanity.

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Slave owners felt that it was their responsibility and duty to dominate the “less fortunate and the less

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He creates powerful imagery to depict the treacherous treatment slaves are enduring that floods the audience with shame. He provides them with a chance to recall their moral standards and compare them to slavery. He questions them to evoke the truth that slavery is never justifiable. The denouement of his speech is that it is patent to his audience that celebrating freedom with slavery existing is atrocious and want to eradicate

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That point is conceded already. Nobody doubts it." He points out that the laws governing slaves are, by their very nature, proof that a slave is a man and therefore slavery is wrong. He pushes his audience to accept that slavery is inhumane and fight against it by proving that the white men in his audience are no different than the

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Frederick Douglass’s narrative provides a first hand experience into the imbalance of power between a slave and a slaveholder and the negative effects it has on them both. Douglass proves that slavery destroys not only the slave, but the slaveholder as well by saying that this “poison of irresponsible power” has a dehumanizing effect on the slaveholder’s morals and beliefs (Douglass 40). This intense amount of power breaks the  kindest heart and changes the slaveholder into a heartless demon (Douglass 40). Yet these are not the only ways that Douglass proves what ill effect slavery has on the slaveholder. Douglass also uses deep characterization, emotional appeal, and religion to present the negative effects of slavery.

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I understood why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions; and why I had never felt guilt in my sins. I understand that centuries of chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man not the sense of truth within him.” Equality realizes what the importance of his “curse” was that the thing he called a curse was a desire to learn and achieve knowledge. The great “We” was a monster that did not let him move forward but now he was finally free. Most importantly we see that Equality realizes that even if they had lashed him nothing could kill his spirit he was independent he was different.

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Furthermore, Education opened Douglass’s eyes to the reality of his injustice as a slave; thus, compelling him to action as he recalls, “In moments of agony, I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity. ”(Douglass, 2014, p.133) Education caused Douglass heartache. While attaining his education benefited Douglass, he could not relate to his fellow slaves. The fellow slaves had the ability to remain content with their current state of being since it was all they had ever known. Douglass knew otherwise and longed for the forbidden life as a free man, as it changed from an unattainable idea into an achievable

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PAGE 2 In the Narrative Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, he uses this text to explain his purpose in “throwing light on the American slave system”, or show it for what it really is, as well as show his position on how he strongly believes slavery is an issue that needs to be addressed and how it differs from those who defended slavery, with experiences from his own life to support his argument. Douglass uses experience from his early days as a young slave to throw light on the aspect of physical abuse. According to his narrative, Douglass states, “Master, however, was not a humane slaveholder.

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Frederick Douglass was a great writer, but he wasn’t always. He was an escaped slave who used that in his speeches as a topic to gain the attention of his audience. His audience was a seemingly sympathetic one and got to them through rhetorical questions. Douglass wanted to convey the message that there are many changes that need to be made.

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