Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem

Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem

  • Submitted By: fantasy
  • Date Submitted: 02/17/2009 12:42 PM
  • Category: Psychology
  • Words: 2458
  • Page: 10
  • Views: 1

Fromm has good ways of letting the reader know what he is trying to say by stating simple stories to support his own thoughts on disobedience. January 21, 2009 — Fromm begins his essay discussing how human kind emerged because of disobedience. He talks about “original sin” from the common Adam and Eve creation story as well as the Greek legend of Prometheus. He continues with disobedience in saying that humans have continued to evolve because of it, and he even states that obedience could usher in the end of mankind. However, Fromm concedes by stating “that [not] all disobedience is a virtue and all obedience is a vice.” He then continues by differentiating the different types of obedience and the pros and cons between each of them. Throughout the second half of his essay, Erich Fromm questions the mechanisms authorities use to quell disobedience, and then he explores how obedience can be overcome. Fromm concludes his essay referring to the trial of Nazi Party member Adolf Eichmann and by saying that everyone is like Adolf in some manner and could commit atrocious acts, even killing either small numbers or all of humanity. Reaction to “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” by Erich Fromm January 15, 2009 — The article “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” by Erich Fromm mainly concerns the ways in which disobedience helps society. He does mention a few times that disobedience is not always beneficial, but for the most part Fromm notes on the ways disobedience has actually contributed to the furthering of the human race. Throughout the essay, Fromm mentions multiple times words concerning religion, specifically Christianity. Almost all of these statements go against standard religious beliefs which could pose a threat to a clear reading of his article by a religious audience. The first clear example of this is in ¶2-3 where Fromm talks about Adam and Eve’s exile from Eden as a blessing for humanity. Man’s disobedience to God was...

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