"Authority is not a quality one person "has," in the sense that he has property or physical qualities. Authority refers to an interpersonal relation in which one person looks upon another as somebody superior to him." - -- Erich Fromm
>From Fromm's perspective, calls for respect for authority can be seen as calls >for acknowledgment of the superiority of those placed in authority. If freedom >is derived from equality then respect for authority diminishes liberty. Another point of view though: "Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do and how you do it." - -- Rudy Giuliani Which one got it right? Bill Scott >>> Michael Smith <[email protected]> 03/25/09 12:04 PM >>> Are we seeing a generalized breakdown in respect for authority in the US and Canada in particular? And if so is this a good or bad thing? One example would be the "entitlement" attitude of students today and the concomitant lack of respect for the professor and classroom regulations that students don't agree with. Another may be the public vowed lack of support for Obama by some politicians. Not that politics shouldn't have arguments, but there seems to be a lack of decorum as well. It seems to me, there is a lack of respect in general for authority figures and or rules/regulations that one happens not to agree with. If so, is there a general social/psychological movement to perhaps an extreme form of the 'me' generation. As educators, should we be resisting and re-training the "millenial" attitude of students rather than saying this is how it is so we better get on board? --Mike --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
