Prompt: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?
Essay:
A healthy amount of skepticism is always beneficial. This is especially true when it comes to the questioning of authority. Although people in positions of authority are usually there for a reason, they often need to be challenged because they can be wrong, or hold outdated ideas. Numerous examples from American History and the scientific community prove this.
During the 1700’s, the American colonies were under the authority of the British Empire. After the French-Indian War, Britain began taxing and imposing restrictions upon the colonies, ending salutory neglect. During this time, ideas from the Enlightenment and Great Awakening caused people to question the monarchs who mistreated them. The idea that a small island across an ocean should not rule a larger group of colonies led to the American Revolution. Essentially, America was founded under the idea of challenging authority, and continues to protect this important right through the freedom of expression in the Constitution. In the mid 1800’s, many began to question the right of southernors to own slaves. This eventually led to abolition. In the mid 1900’s, people challenged the right of business owners and many others to discriminate against African Americans. This led to the various Civil Rights Acts. The process of questioning an authority that is subjugating others has been repeated over and over through American History, from the revolution, to anti slavery movement, to the Civil Rights Movement, and even today, to LGBT rights. The achievements of these show that the questioning of authority is important.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, many scientists questioned the ideas of the church. The church believed that the sun rotated around the Earth, an outdated and factually incorrect view. Copernicus however, discovered that the Earth in fact orbited around the sun. By questioning authority, he furthered scientific progress and our understanding of the universe, correcting an authority that had limited it.
Skepticism of authority is important, as authority can be wrong, or even harmful. The progress made by questioning authority in American History and in the scientific community illustrate this.
Thanks!