Authority
"Whatever the proper label-- whether postmodern, postconservative, or posteverything-- the ideas and beliefs of popular culture have so inundated life in this world that such ideas and beliefs can all too easily become a part of our natural thinking and living. A college student on a typical campus today has learned the cultural drill well: 'Doubt everything taught by anyone; submit your ideas to no authority.' To fail to doubt is to fail to be heard. Perhaps no demographic in the history of our country has been fed a daily diet so heavy in tolerance and inclusiveness and so light in truth as these newer generations have. Any form of authority exists to be challenged, ignored, and likely rejected. To accept the ultimate authority of any person, document, or institution is to be bigoted, intolerant, unloving, and self-righteous." -- Oliphant/Mays
For discussion: Do you agree or disagree? Why? What do you think you should do about it?
posted by Anthony at
8:39 AM
8 Comments:
I disagree with the statement. I think an in-between is necessary. Sometimes people should follow authority, and sometimes they should not dependent upon the circumstances. Instead of being taught that authority is bad and to reject all of its ideas, people should be taught how to decide when to respect authority and when to reject it. People should be encouraged to weigh logic, personal beliefs and morals, and what is good for society when making such a decision.
By
egreen, at Tue Oct 05, 04:00:00 PM 2010
i dont think a college student should bout everything from an authority. I think they should be somewhat skeptic, but give them a listen. Why doubt everything an authority is telling you when you're paying good money to be informed on your future career choice. Instead of doubting them, ask a question.
By
ColtonMiller, at Tue Oct 05, 09:30:00 PM 2010
I definitely disagree where it says "to accept ultimate authority of any person, document, or institution is to be bigoted, intolerant, unloving, and self-righteous." I mean I accept my religion and Grandmother as my authority, but I also agree that we should doubt, but should we doubt EVERYTHING?? If I agree with an idea, why should I doubt it? I also think asking questions instead of completely doubting or accepting something is the way to go. It seems like the most neutral solution.
By
Unknown, at Wed Oct 06, 12:30:00 PM 2010
I think that in some cases it is beneficial to one, or a group, to challenge authority, but this depends on the matter. I think in all cases it is proper for someone, including college students to challenge ideas, and principals, for example religion or philosophies, but it is not always okay for the student to challenge them in a negative connotation. Although I am not avid in religious beliefs, I know people that are, and I would never go as far as to say that they were wrong because that would be directly offend them, and I know that they wouldn't idolize my proposed idea because I am completely rejecting their basic morale.
I think it is important for not only college students, but everyone to be skeptic of proposed ideas. I also believe that no one should become the complete authoritative figure in regards to anything, including religion and institutions. I feel as though many things can be adapted to, but it takes those who evaluate ideas to make authority a tolerant model to follow. I also think authority is needed to provide control so that not all people are spurring about with different ideologies that they care to have forced upon others, but the extent unto which, multiple authorities can help to keep social order by providing everyone with different options in which, the authorities they can accept.
By
Amber Konopka, at Mon Oct 11, 11:23:00 AM 2010
I do not agree with this statement. I do think that it is right to doubt but to doubt everyone doesn't make sense. If you believe in something you shouldn't doubt it just to go against authority. And at the same time if you don't agree with something, it is entirely okay to doubt authority and go against them. The world would collapse with no authority and at the same time if authority always went unchallenged they would get too powerful and the world would also collapse. There needs to be a happy medium with authority. We need to both respect them and challenge them at the same time.
By
Amanda Rossi, at Fri Oct 15, 02:09:00 PM 2010
I think i disagree with this, although you shouldn't always believe what you hear just because the person has authority over you. There definitely can be reason to question or doubt what you hear but the reason you may doubt it probably is because someone else of authority told you differently. I do agree with this statement, "To fail to doubt is to fail to be heard." If you doubt something then you should make it a point to be heard because you can be right. Never assume that your thoughts may be wrong because someone elses are different but never assume all people of authority have it wrong either.
By
Jaclyn Dicarlo, at Sat Oct 16, 07:21:00 PM 2010
While it is important to be skeptical of authority, its irrational to simply reject what they say. You have to know what sources to trust and what sources not to trust. It is not "bigoted, intolerant, unloving, and self-righteous" to trust people. Using that logic, we would never be able to learn anything, because we wouldn't listen to what our teachers, parents, etc. would teach us. Thus, we should doubt the validity of what we hear, but not to the point where we disregard knowledge from trustworthy sources.
By
RyanHabib, at Sun Oct 17, 12:52:00 PM 2010
I disagree with this statement. While it is important to have your own views and ideas, I do not think that disagreeing with authority is the right thing to do. There needs to be someone in everyone's life that gives them advice and tries to lead them down the right path, even if at first the person does not agree. Challenging an authority will not solve anything. If someone is willing to give advice, you should take it, not argue with them just because what they tell you to do is not typically what you think is right.
By
KristenCraven, at Mon Oct 18, 06:44:00 PM 2010
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