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Obedience: The dilemma of a democratic society
One of the most famous studies ever conducted on the subject of human obedience was that of Stanley Milgram's electric shock experiments. In Milgram's experiments, subjects were pressed to transmit what they believed were deadly electric shocks to fellow human beings. The purpose of Milgram's experiments was in part to understand how Nazi soldiers could have possibly have committed such horrific atrocities during World War II, simply because they were 'following orders.' However, even within the U.S. military, strict compliance is demanded in terms of the soldiers' behavior, dress, and bearing (Wenker 1981). Milgram's subjects came from a wide array of cultural backgrounds and many had not served in the military, yet the commanding presence of an authority caused them to obey and give apparently deadly shocks for no discernable purpose. The construct of the experiment was seen as horrifyingly strange by many individuals who read about Milgram's...
possesses a highly individualistic culture, the military places a strong premium upon obedience, partially by virtue of necessity. In the field, absolute obedience is required to ensure there are no needless American causalities (Wenker 1981). Rank and deference to one's commanding officer's superior wisdom and experience is required for the military to function. However, this also makes it all the more important that officers must behave morally and ethically, given the profound conflict they create in the hearts of their soldiers when they give orders that do not seem to be in the nation's best interest or morality.
The need for military obedience is always a dilemma for a democratic society such as the United States. On one hand, the military is fighting to preserve democratic values. On the other hand,…
References
Wenker, Kenneth. (1981, July-August). Morality and military obedience.
Criminal Justice in Today�s SocietyAbstractThe modern-day society has evolved, and so are the security and social issues that face it. To determine the specific challenges that face today�s society and thus, the criminal justice system, it requires a critical and analytical research study that will filter through the information available and determine the thematic areas that emerge as critical for modern-day criminal justice. Research for this study was done through
Introduction The consideration of when it is or is not legitimate to use military force against another group or country is one that requires astute ethical analysis. Deontological ethics can be useful for determining the moral righteousness of military intervention, specifically given the ability of a duty-based ethical system to offer the international community a set of ground rules member states can agree upon. The Geneva Convention is a prime example
The concept of moral disobedience occupies a vital place in the discourse of ethical philosophy and civic action. This form of disobedience is an act of noncompliance with laws, directives, or societal norms predicated on individual or collective moral principles that are in stark conflict with such edicts or customs. Moral disobedience is rooted in the notion that obedience to authority is not an absolute imperative, especially when such obedience
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