SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the When-in-the-course-of-human-events... dept.
Margaret Atwood's novel, The Handmaid's Tale, described the horror of the authoritarian regime of Gilead. In this theocracy, self-preservation was the best people could hope for, being powerless to kick against the system. But her sequel, The Testaments, raises the possibility that individuals, with suitable luck, bravery and cleverness, can fight back.
But can they? There are countless examples of past and present monstrous regimes in the real world. And they all raise the question of why people didn't just rise up against their rulers. Some of us are quick to judge those who conform to such regimes as evil psychopaths – or at least morally inferior to ourselves.
To answer this question, let's start by considering a now classic analysis by American organisational theorist James March and Norwegian political scientist Johan Olsen from 2004.
They argued that human behaviour is governed by two complementary, and very different, "logics". According to the logic of consequence, we choose our actions like a good economist: weighing up the costs and benefits of the alternative options in the light of our personal objectives. This is basically how we get what we want.
But there is also a second logic, the logic of appropriateness. According to this, outcomes, good or bad, are often of secondary importance – we often choose what to do by asking "What is a person like me supposed to do in a situation like this"?
The idea is backed up by psychological research. Human social interactions depend on our tendency to conform to unwritten rules of appropriate behaviour. Most of us are truthful, polite, don't cheat when playing board games and follow etiquette. We are happy to let judges or football referees enforce rules. A recent study showed we even conform to arbitrary norms.
[...] A small number of us, however, would rebel – but not primarily, I suspect, based on differences in individual moral character. Rebels, too, need to harness the logic of appropriateness – they need to find different norms and ideals, shared with fellow members of the resistance, or inspired by history or literature. Breaking out of one set of norms requires that we have an available alternative.
Would you stand up to an oppressive regime or would you conform?
Do you agree with this analysis? What would you do in such situations?
(Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday October 11 2019, @03:10AM (7 children)
It doesn't matter whether you succeed or not. That you fight is what matters. As soon as you decide to fight, you're already free. Now your choices may suck balls but it's you making the choices, nobody else.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday October 11 2019, @06:36AM
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday October 11 2019, @08:06AM (1 child)
One of the choices being "live to fight another day", is it not?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday October 11 2019, @06:18PM
If you plan on fighting another day, sure. There's a difference between that and surrender + self deception though.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday October 11 2019, @03:08PM
That, exactly.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 11 2019, @03:19PM (2 children)
I wonder if you realize your words could easily inspire some of the crazies here to violence, like Runaway there who is just itching for a reason to murder some libs. Well, so he says anyway, I'm hopeful it is just angry internet posting.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday October 11 2019, @03:39PM
Did you see the thread where users admitted to becoming more radical as they get older? I would worry about those words more.
Runaway is about 10 years out from completely not giving a shit. I'm surprised more old folks don't go postal. If they get cancer instead of Alzheimer's, they can carry out an attack.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday October 11 2019, @06:20PM
You say that like it's a bad thing.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.