Orders, rules and laws have important places in society. Most regulations exist to ensure the safety of citizens within a community and make sense from a common sense or moral point of view. We have been conditioned to follow orders, based on those laws, given by people in authority. When a police officer arrives at the scene of a crime or an accident, we follow the orders because, we assume, the situation is going to be taken care of. When a soldier is given an order from a commanding officer, those orders are normally followed without question. When the officials giving those orders have questionable motives though, can we trust the orders that they give and the laws that they make?
We learn that it was actually a small but influential group of Nazi leadership - Hitler, Himmler and Heydrich - that made the secret plans to annihilate the Jews. At the Wansee Conference in 1942, the "Final Solution" was agreed upon. The poisonous gas, Zyklon B would be used in order to exterminate large numbers of people in the gas chambers at Auschwitz and the other death camps. In order to do so, a vast number of people had to either follow orders or turn a blind eye to what was going on. Murder on such a vast scale simply could not happen unnoticed.
What are alternative actions can one take if one feels that an order is morally wrong?
What are some consequences if people do—or do not do—as they are ordered?
Professor Kissi has talked about "respecting authority but questioning information." Give an example where one could "respect authority" but "question information."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
they were just doing what they were told and if they didn't folow order they would be killed on the spot. PW
ReplyDelete1.If there was an order that felt like a wrong for me to do I would try to see if I could get someone else to do the order.
ReplyDelete2. People that would obey the order would end in a positive way for the person that obeyed the order and people who would refuse the order would get punishment.
3. If I was to "respected the authority but question the information" I would maybe ask about easier and quicker ways of killing the Jews.(If I was that cruel to the Jews)
MR
1. In the millartary there arnt realy alternates the only choises would be do the order, get cortmarsheled for disabaing or getting shot for insorbordance.
ReplyDeleteSM
I would not do what they tell me i would get other people in the army to help me free some of the jews.
ReplyDeleteIf they dont do what they are told they are probably killed.
If some one of a higher rank and tells me to do something but they dont give me enought information or gives falce information. I respect that he was a higher rank but i would need to have more information.
AP
1. If you're in the military you will have no choice, if you did something wrong, and you know what the consequences will be. You have to follow the correction, or you'll get end up killed.
ReplyDelete2. If the military obey the rules, they will end up in good way, if the military deciding to break little rule then will end up get bad consequences depend on sistuation.
3. If I was asked "respected the authority but question the information" I would said what is the best idea to hurt Jews more quicker and easier to make them suffer and die sooner. ( Only if I was so mean enough to cruel them and make them suffer even MORE)
From RM:
ReplyDeleteWhat are the alternative actions one can take if one feels an order is morally wrong?
If told to take actions that are morally wrong, I would refuse to follow the orders.
What are some consequence if people do – or do not do – as they are ordered.
The commanding officer may kill me or order me to be killed, but I will accept the consequences. If arrested for refusing to follow orders, I will await trail and believe that the other officers will support my choice.
Blindly following orders is dangerous. By ordering immoral action, people in charge cause their orders to be questioned.
One can “respect authority” but “question information” ...
When given an order by a higher ranking personnel to do something that is “against the rules”, you may question the order. For instance, you can question is the action the right or wrong thing to do. Even though one must follow orders, one must also follow rules (morals) as well.
1. One can chose not to flown an order and maybe ask why what ever the order is needs to be cared out and tack the consequences what ever they are.
ReplyDelete2. The consequences depend on the situation, like in the Holocaust if a person (nazi) did not flow an ordered the consequences might have been fatal in some cases, and if a person flowed the orders they would have to live with what they did.
3. "Respecting authority but questioning information" is a touchy subject for some one of a lower rank. But if a person of lower rank feels something is wrong and they have enough faces to prove there argument I’d say go for it...
...I would confront my authority in public (people with different opinions of what is in question) extensively give lots of compliments and proceed to question the authority with mutually verifiable facts that (hopefully) the majority of the population will backup... if not backed up beg for mercy!
LE
1. Plot to eliminate the commanders--refusal to comply is not an option
ReplyDelete2. You may be executed or arrested if you do not follow orders
3. You gather information from other sources and contacts and make decisions based on information that is reliable. Sometimes you need to make choices based on the information provided--you can't always wait to see the big
picture.
aaron
1. I think that there aren't any other alternative actions can one take if one feels that an order is morally wrong you there do the order or you don't and if you don't you could end up being punished or get killed.
ReplyDelete2. Some consequences if one does not follow orders and getting punished or getting killed.
3.One could "respect authority" but "question information" by trying to get more details but not sounding to suspicion.
cm
1)I think the germans and nozies knew what they were doing was wrong but they followed orders anyway.
ReplyDelete2)If they did not treat the jews the way hitler wanted them to they would be put to death.
3)To respecting authority but questioning information....I would ask why whatch a person suffer in conditions that were forced onto them when they can be executed with out having to suffer at all without bringing mentally or physically damage to them.
without respecting authority....why kill them at all
Corey Maddock