Milgram on obedience
Most of us have heard about the Milgram Experiment, an experiment on obedience. It's been pretty integrated into pop culture even though the name isn't always attached: in summary, the experiment concluded that people tend to obey authority figures even if this requires them to do immoral things. That's an oversimplification, of course, but Milgram's results were disturbing - and this is part of what he had to say about the matter in his 1974 review of the experiments: The behavior revealed in the experiments reported here is normal human behavior but revealed under conditions that show with particular clarity the danger to human survival inherent in our make-up. And what is it we have seen? Not aggression, for there is no anger, vindictiveness, or hatred in those who shocked the victim. Men do become angry; they do act hatefully and explode in rage against others. But not here. Something far more dangerous is revealed: the capacity for man to abandon his humanity, indeed, the inevitability that he does so, as he merges his unique personality into larger institutional structures. This is a fatal flaw nature has designed into us, and which in the long run gives our species only a modest chance of survival.
It seems to me that now, even more than in 1974, we humans are required to merge our unique personalities into larger institutional structures in the realms of school, political life, and the corporate workplace. I wouldn't agree with Milgram's pessimistic view on the survival of the species, but the risk is very real.
It seems to me that now, even more than in 1974, we humans are required to merge our unique personalities into larger institutional structures in the realms of school, political life, and the corporate workplace. I wouldn't agree with Milgram's pessimistic view on the survival of the species, but the risk is very real.