On Disobedience: Why Freedom Means Saying No to Power

nHuman history began with an act of disobedience, and it is not unlikely that it will be terminated by an act of obedience.--from On DisobedienceIn On Disobedience, Erich Fromm writes that the authoritarian dictatorships of the 20th century produced an organization man to follow directives blindly, no matter how abhorrent. At the same time, a kind of conformity has arisen in western democracies, only brought about by more subtle means of massive consumerism. In democracies, where the power to implement irreversible destruction rests in the hands of the few, the individual also needs to retain his ability to dissent and to speak no to those in power.

In the face of these conformist pressures in whichever form they take, modern man must seek an authentic expression in order to retain his deepest sense of self. Fromm sees both capitalism and totalitarian communism moving toward a life-denying industrial bureaucracy, and berates the one system for ignoring, the other for betraying, the ideals of a true humanistic socialism in which people take precedence over things, life over property, and work over capital.

As timely today as when it was first published, On Disobedience is a significant work of the 20th century that generations of readers will turn to for inspiration.

In times of crisis, the great works of philosophy help us make sense of the world. The Harper Perennial Resistance Library is a special five-book series highlighting short classic works of independent thought that illuminate the nature of truth, humanity's dangerous attraction to authoritarianism, the influence of media and mass communication, and the philosophy of resistance--all critical in understanding today's politically charged world. nHuman history began with an act of disobedience, and it is not unlikely that it will be terminated by an act of obedience. One of the great psychological and social philosophers of the 20th century, Erich Fromm expounded on the importance of disobedience and the authentic voice of the individual in modern culture. As relevant now as when it was first published, On Disobedience is a collection of provocative essays, including the title entry, which suggests the very act of dissent--the choice to refuse to conform, to speak no to those in power--is essential to a humane society, both to ensure humankind's preservation and to allow for one person to r