2014-12-11

Human Nature

I recently watched Stalingrad and was reminded at how utterly evil the Nazis were. The age old question I've heard over the years is how can a civilized nation become so utterly barbaric and destructive?

Well, the short (stereotypical) end of it is Germans (and Northern Europeans as a whole) tend to submit to authority quite willingly. Indeed, I recall many a discussion about the differences of Hilter's command of Germany and Mussolini's of Italy. Many of the people and professors came to the simple conclusion that Germans were willing to die for Hitler while Italians weren't so prepared to give their lives to Mussolini thus pointing to the Italian reputation of being aloof and anti-authoritarian if not outright anarchists.

Anyway, Stalingrad is one of the great and dark moments in world history. Its battle was the bloodiest in world history and it basically started the decline of German power in the Second World War.

After the war, psychologist Stanley Milgram wanted to know how people could become so evil so easily under authority.

What he found was, to me anyway, disturbing.

Under the direction of an 'authority' figure (someone who really didn't have any control over them) as much 65% of people willing to inflict pain cruelly through electric shocks to other people who gave wrong answers.

That's 7 in 10 people if you round up.

You people should be glad I'm a 'fuck you, up yours' kinds of guy. I would not make a good soldier or corporate worker. I don't function well in groups or associations.

Too much pressure from people attempting to force you into their 'social context'.

I am skeptical of such people; if not hold a downright disdain for them. The audacity to try and control or influence me.

Machiavelli was right. We're 'wretched little creatures.'
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Mysterious and anonymous comments as well as those laced with cyanide and ad hominen attacks will be deleted. Thank you for your attention, chumps.