Liberation by ObedienceA Summarization of Fromm's essay Disobedience as Psycological and Moral Problem
...ice. He compares the two and concludes that if one is being obedient to one’s self, that is an affirmation and if one if being obedient to an institution, that is an act of submission. To further conclude the acts of obedience versus disobedience, Fromm felt there should be further qualification between the idea of humanistic conscience and authoritarian conscience. Humanistic conscience is that inner voice discussed previously. While authoritarian conscience is an idea that is ingrained in man to please and obey authority, whatever that may be. Fromm continues with yet another distinction. Deciding whether to be obedient or disobedient is also bases on rational and irrational authority. One must use their conscience to decide whether the authority is worth following or whether it is fear driving us to obey. This is the difference between rational and irrational authority. Some examples he uses are teacher and student versus slave and master. Fromm uses the example, “As long as I am obedient to the power of the State, the Church, or public opinion, I feel safe and protected.” He states that obedience to this all knowing and all-powerful authority is what keeps man continuing to obey and not question authority. From this idea, Fromm has then concluded that disobedience must take courage and a well-rounded, confident individual. And, that by learning to question authority and possibly disobey, a person can gain “freedom”. He questions how an institution can promise freedom if its people are taught not to question authority. Fromm concludes his essay by stating: The organization man has lost the capacity to disobey, he is not even aware of the fact that he obeys. At this point in history the capacity to doubt, to criticize, and to disobey may be all that stands between a future for mankind and the end of civilization. (Behrens 364) I agree with all of Fromm’s ideas and have experienced the disapproval of other’s because of my questioning of authority. It makes me sad that because I have chosen to question the ideas of others, I am judged harshly by, what I thought were my peers. I am an only child and have always been the apple of my parents’ eyes. I never caused any problems for them. I was taught to always obey them and others and I did. I did everything my parents wanted me to do. Even after I was married, I took great stock in the opinion of my parents, the people in my church and my friends. I felt it was safe to just go along with the rest of the crowd. I believe the biggest reason that I never did anything wrong was because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone, my parents, my religion, my teachers, my friends, and myself. About 3 years ago, my husband did something to upset my parents. He bought a $1200 riding lawn mower. This incident was quite trivial in my eyes, but my parents took great offense and insisted that I divorce my husband and move back onto their property with my children. I tried to discuss this incident rationally with my mother, but she would not budge in her dislike for my husband. My parents and my church have taught me that immediate family comes first and I tried to point this out to my parents. Since that time, things have only escalated into more problems. I am learning that a lot of what was instilled in me as a child is “heteronomous obedience”. This essay has made me open my eyes to a lot of things. Fromm says, “A person can become free through acts of disobedience by learning to say no to power. But not only is the capacity for disobedience the condition for freedom; freedom is also the condition for disobedience.” Four years ago, this statement would not have meant anything to me. In fact, I may have even disagreed with it. But, today, it is a liberating statement; almost an anthem to my new way of life. Since this “nightmare” with my parents started, I have grown to trust my own opinions and not worry so much about the opinion...