This prompt is from test #1 in the blue book. Any errors that appear here are actual errors from my essay. I appreciate all advice and criticism that I receive. I do have a question though - how accurate do my facts and evidence have to be? You’ll see why I asked when you read the essay haha. Anyways, I did fill up the entirety of the two pages.
Prompt: Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?
It is absolutely important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority to expose and criticize their methods of governance. Several examples from history, literature, and current world events all demonstrate that questioning authority is crucial to enlighten the population of its leaders.
Substantiated by the age of the Enlightenment in Europe, questioning people in authority exposes the faults of their governance. John Locke noticed early on how corrupt European politics, from the English monarch to the Spanish throne, had become. In his treatises released to the public, he questioned the validity of absolute monarchs and criticized their methods of ruling the population. After Locke had exposed the flaws of European royal governments, many other philosophers became “enlightened” and dispersed word of this high level corruption. One great result of Locke’s bravery was the English Bill of Rights, which limited the monarch’s power and awarded people rights. Therefore, questioning authority is necessary to allow people to become aware of pitfalls in their government.
In the novel 1984, questioning authority is seen as a necessary ingredient to expose the government’s corrupt tactics. The main character, Winston, is an employee of the government and learned of the extreme corruption that existed while on the job. He soon sought collaboration from his inner circle of friends to help support his mission. Soon enough, many people in his area soon understood what their government was doing - consolidating power - and attempted to put an end to it. Without Winston’s questioning his leaders in positions of authority, the population would’ve remained unaware of the politics that greatly affected their lives.
Supported by the exposure of the corrupt Saudi Arabian government, questioning authority has the power to use criticism against the government to change horrible realities. Abdul was a young man who lived in Saudi Arabia and learned of the horrific cases of brutality that his government was involved in. Set out to ameliorate his society, Abdul began collaborating with civil rights leaders from all over the world and released data that exposed the inhumane sexism and barbarism that was practised in Saudi Arabia. Although Abdul was met with vicious punishments, his bravery resulted in women receiving the permission to drive and a change in Saudi Arabia’s legislature that lowered the rate of capital punishment. Thus, to improve the conditions of society, it is necessary to question people in positions of authority and expose their faults.
As corroborated by the Enlightenment, the novel 1984, and Abdul’s case in Saudi Arabia, it is, indeed, important to question people in power. Without it, society remains the same and rulers are free to do as they please.