We all want to be one. We want our children to be one. And when we’re not one, we want the person in charge to be one.
What is it?
It’s not just a “leader,” it’s a “GOOD leader.”
This represents a significant qualifier. You’ll need to brace yourself for this one. The word doesn’t reflect a moral imperative (yet), it merely alludes to effectiveness.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “but if a leader isn’t moral, why would I ever follow him?”
Let me counter that with a different question: If you find yourself placed in a life or death Continue Reading “What Is A Good Leader?”
Is Obedience To Authority A Virtue Or A Crime?
Advertisement for Milgram Experiment subjects. The original uploader was Poolisfun at Wikipedia., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
World War II marks a turning point in almost every facet of mankind. From science to engineering, from business to politics, to the very core of our culture, the world changed as America rebuilt Europe and reframed Japan. You see a shift from a feudal/monarchical-centric philosophy towards a populace/organizational-centric viewpoint.
Within the academic arena, research on authority moved from the Sociology Department to the Psychology Department. In fact, one of the most famous and useful psychology experiments of the mid-twentieth century represents this shift. It answered the most compelling question regarding the nature of authority to come out of the Second World War.
The Psychological Origins of Authority
You might not recognize the name Stanley Milgram, but you’ll instantly recognize his Continue Reading “Is Obedience To Authority A Virtue Or A Crime?”