The Authority through Rationality
In my personal point of view, the limit between insanity and sanity can be identified
with numerous meanings. In the past, for political or social reasons, whoever
brought objection to a certain regime was automatically called '' mentally ill '' and
was confined in psychiatric institutions in order not to hinder the work of the
authorities. An example can be given in the tactics that Hitler or the Russian
Psychiatric Association in the 60s were using. At the same time, the same applies to
any kind of authoritarian or oppressive relationship: state-citizen, husband-wife,
parent-child, teacher-student, supervisor-subordinate. All these have a significant
effect over our personal limitations.
The main issue of the Authority has always been “the construction of a concept that
is basically non-existent, of a human species that would resemble to other animal
species and whose only freedom would exist in the need of its preservation”, as once
the political philosopher, Hannah Arendt, wrote. A framework for the formulation of
a new human being is being created in which its former active role of consisting the
driving force of history is now turned into a passive and docile follower. This human
belongs in the contemporary society. Within this society the person becomes one
with the mass and is contented with a minimal and meaningless education which
makes him vulnerable. Technology makes him feel emotionally crippled and
ultimately becomes a person who has been exiled within himself. Finally, all of the
above are included in oppressive institutions that are generally accepted because
they provide solutions to problems that the Authority itself produces.
Violence is often the instrument for domination of man over man, and not only. "All
authorities use violence and are all based on logic» as W. Pareto noticed. It refers to
an element of human nature where on the one hand it unites people, and on the
other hand it becomes a weapon. Society can be perceived as a mutual protective
measure. It terminates the state of absolute freedom. If there is no common place
that restricts violence, then anyone can exercise it at any time with or without
reason. Therefore, people have chosen to form coalitions within societies.
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