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Erich Fromm's Disobedience As A Psychological And Moral Problem

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“A person can become free through acts of disobedience by learning to say no to power” (Erich Fromm 577). Erich Fromm is a popular, distinguished psychoanalyst, philosopher, historian, sociologist, and writer. He studied the works of Frued and Marx closely as he shared his thoughts with the world. In the article, “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem”, Fromm closely examines human history and why people act the way they do. Many of Fromm’s theories relate back to why humans choose to obey or disobey an authority. Heteronomous obedience is the obedience to another person, institution, or power instead of listening to oneself; submission. Autonomous obedience is the obedience to the person's own will, reason, or judgment; act of …show more content…

Authoritarian Conscience relates to acting on fear of disappointing or disobeying an authority. However, the Humanistic Conscience defines acting on individual instincts; trusting that the person will make the right choices and do what is best. Rational Authority is when a person decides to listen to an authority out of free will and acts with reason. Though, Irrational Authority is when a person is forced or persuaded to accept commands from an authority. Society demonstrates both human nature and obedience to power. George Orwell, well-educated and known author of many famous novels, puts these theories into practice in his short story “Shooting an Elephant”. He tells the story of his time as a police officer in a foreign country. When an elephant got loose in the town leaving many people dead, it was his job to make a decision about what to do. He explains his thought …show more content…

Valeriya Safronova and Joanna Nikas are New York Time authors and editors. In an article they wrote together, they explain the reasons behind why students choose to stand or sit during pledges or anthems. Furthermore, they use real students and stories as examples to state their case. 17 year old Naylah Williams, highschool cheerleader who knelt during football games, is used as a demonstration of Humanistic Conscience. For example, Williams explains, “Changing someone’s view on something isn’t easy to do. I’m happy with it. I’m proud of myself for standing up for something I believe in, even if other people don’t” (Safranova). Williams explains the reason she kneels for the flag or anthem is due to her own personal choice. She states that even though other people do not agree with her decision, she will follow her own conscience to decide what is right. This shows that the Humanistic Conscience is used to make decisions in everyday life. However, some people choose to stand for the flag using their Authoritarian Conscience to decide whether or not it is right to sit during the pledge or anthem. High School student Trenton Faulkner states, “I think the kids kneeling in high schools are following a trend. There are only a few who will actually dedicate their time to this subject. All the kids like to follow the trends” (Safronova). Faulkner analyzes that the reason that people are kneeling during

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The students were asked to remove the armbands by school officials and when the students refused they were suspended. The concern is that the students First Amendment Rights were violated, specifically their free speech. The Des Moines, IA school district argued that the students First Amendment Rights were not violated because their actions created a disruption to the school environment. The parents appealed the school district’s decision through each of the federal courts and ultimately, landed at the US Supreme court.

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In the past students did not know the guidelines of what they could say at school,but the students at Des Moines brought attention to the rights of every student at school(Blacher 10). Things changed in the 1960's many students wore black armbands to school as a way of protesting the Vietnam War (Blacher 11).The Des Moines school banned them from wearing their armbands(“Case summary:Tinker”1). Mary Beth and John Tinker believed it was their constitutional right to be able to express how they feel(“Case summary:Tinker”1). They decided to take their case to the courts. case went all the way to the supreme court(“Case summary:Tinker”1).

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The question presented is whether, a high school regulation, requiring that student athletes “stand in a respectful manner throughout the National Anthem during any sporting event in which their team is participating” violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The court should rule for the defendant Jane Skinner, utilizing the case of Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988) and Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969). Which both implies that her actions were resulted from materially and substantially interfere with other student, and therefore justifies Jane Skinners actions. Facts: On October 4, 2017 Jane Skinner who is the principal of Alabama’s Hoover High School, informed both students and parents of a new sporting

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Samantha Kubota’s “School Punished Teen Girl for Working Out in Sports Bra in 100-degree Texas Heat, ACLU Say” (2023) tells the story of a young female athlete. A teenage girl who participates in cross country and track at her high school got in trouble for wearing a sports bra during practice in 100-degree heat while her male counterparts were practicing shirtless. Furthermore, since G.H. wore a sports bra, she was denied the award of being the top runner on the girls’ cross-country team; this award would have been crucial for college recruiting and applications. The girl, who identifies by her initials G.H., requested help from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU sent a letter to her high school stating the coaches, District officials, and employees violated the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX of the Education Amendments by reinforcing a sex-stereotyped dress code and treating the girls’ and boys’ cross-country teams differently.

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This case is an example of the violation of freedom of speech and peacefully protesting. Wearing black armbands in protest to the Vietnam War, to protest against the war, shouldn’t seem a threat to the school. Students should be allowed to voice their opinions about certain things and situations they feel obligated to speak on. Students who participated in the protest faced suspension from school until they ended their protest. The students’ parents argued with the school board about the suspension of their children and eventually sued the school and the case was taken to court.

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In the sports article, “49ers Fans Burn Jerseys Over Player 's Refusal To Stand During Anthem”, Washington post claims that Kaepernick 's fans disagree with his actions, by burning his jersey. The article then mentions a few players and/or officials who support his decisions to kneel while the national anthem plays. Furthermore, Kaepernick 's action did not physically harm another individual. It is then argued, Kaepernick has a right such as the other individuals who reside in this nation, as an American we have freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Washington post concludes, with Kaepernick 's opinion, approval is not the reasoning behind this, but instead standing up for those who are

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“I’ve lived the literal meaning of the ‘land of the free’ and ‘home of the brave.’ It’s not corny for me. I feel it in my heart. I feel it in my chest. Even at a ball game, when someone talks during the anthem or doesn’t take off his hat, it pisses me off.

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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 text it states, “—I am shocked that a Harrison student should be suspended from one of our schools because he desires to sing the national anthem. Yes, my friends, it is true. It has happened here. Here—in today’s Record—is the sad story. (Page 61, Avi)”

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In his essay, “Civil Disobedience,” Henry David Thoreau uses rhetorical questions and many dehumanizing analogies to elicit an emotional reaction from his readers and urge them to carefully consider their relationship with the law. Firstly, he considers the correlation between man and law, and supplies the audience with many thought-provoking questions such as: “Why has every man a conscience, then?” The use of these questions inspires self-reflection within the reader and causes them to rethink their present beliefs. Because the questions primarily focus on the morals associated with lawmaking, Thoreau also adds an emotional appeal to his essay—everyone wants to do the right thing and will therefore be more connected to his argument.

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Since the beginning of the human existence, man has always dominated and ruled over one another be it empires, corporations, or small groups. Authority and obedience has always been a factor of who we are. This natural occurrence can be seen clearly through the psychological experiments known as The Milgram Experiment and the Stanford Prison Experiment. Both of these studies are based on how human beings react to authority figures and what their obedience is when faced with conflict.

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At the beginning of his speech, he conveys emotion through telling his own story and putting the audience in his shoes. He states “On the one hand he is born in the shadow of the stars and stripes and he is assured it represents a nation which has never lost a war. He pledges allegiance to that flag which guarantees "liberty and justice for all. " He is part of a country in which anyone can become President, and so forth”. This shows the audience how African American children feel when living in a country made on the premise of equality, but feeling anything but equal to their Caucasian peers.

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In George Orwell 's short story titled “Shooting an Elephant” presented an event that changed a countries civilization. George’s life in Burma, and the prejudice placed by the people he oppressed inspired his writing through the uses of setting, style, and theme. In George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” Orwell no specific event influenced this piece rather it was an accumulation of many small events of prejudice and hate by an opposing group of

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In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District upheld the right to freedom of speech of students to protest the Vietnam war by wearing black armbands. The case explained the problem that “students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” (Student) As students, we are free to express ourselves through what we wear. As students, we have every right to proclaim our beliefs

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