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"Question authority" is a popular slogan often used on bumper stickers, T-shirts and as graffiti. The slogan was popularized by controversial psychologist Timothy Leary,^[1] although some people have suggested that the idea behind the slogan can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.^[2] One of the most influential icons in the counterculture movement which formed in the late 1960s out of opposition to the Vietnam War's escalation, Leary gained influence among much of the youth by advocating the use of LSD – which was criminalized in the United States in 1966^[3] – as a way to escape from the burdens of society.^[3] Following the Watergate Scandal, which resulted in the resignation of US President Richard Nixon and the conviction of several officials in the Nixon administration, the slogan became arguably the most accepted form of ideology among baby boomers.^[4]

It is intended to encourage people to avoid fallacious appeals to authority. The term has always symbolized the necessity of paying attention to the rules and regulations promulgated by a government unto its citizenry. However, psychologists have also criticized Leary's method of questioning authority and have argued that it resulted in widespread dysfunctionality.^[5] In their book Question Authority, Think For Yourself, psychologists Beverly Potter and Mark Estren alleged that the practice of Leary's philosophy enhances a person's self-interest and greatly weakens the ability to cooperate with others.

However, Leary's philosophy was foreseen in concept by C. Wright Mills in his 1956 book, The Power Elite. Quoting: "Authority formally resides ‘in the people,’ but the power of initiation is in fact held by small circles of men. That is why the standard strategy of manipulation is to make it appear that the people, or at least a large group of them, ‘really made the decision.’ That is why even when authority is available, men with access to it may still prefer the secret, quieter ways of manipulation.” Mills noted earlier that "It is in this mixed case—as in the intermediate reality of the American today—that manipulation is a prime way of exercising power."

References

^ Beverly Potter; Mark Estren (2012). Question Authority; Think for Yourself. Ronin Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-1579511623. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
^ http://radicalreference.info/node/832
^ ^a ^b David Farber (2004). The Sixties Chronicle. Legacy Publishing. p. 287. ISBN 141271009X.
^ David Farber (2004). The Sixties Chronicle. Legacy Publishing. p. 448. ISBN 141271009X.
^ Beverly Potter; Mark Estren (2012). Question Authority; Think for Yourself. Ronin Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 978-1579511623. Retrieved May 17, 2014.

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[pppqpvab51-1] Beverly Potter; Mark Estren (2012). Question Authority; Think for Yourself. Ronin Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-1579511623. Retrieved May 17, 2014.

[2] ttp://radicalreference.info/node/832

[pppqpvab287-3] David Farber (2004). The Sixties Chronicle. Legacy Publishing. p. 287. ISBN 141271009X.

[pppqpvab48-4] David Farber (2004). The Sixties Chronicle. Legacy Publishing. p. 448. ISBN 141271009X.

[uoooa-5] Beverly Potter; Mark Estren (2012). Question Authority; Think for Yourself. Ronin Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 978-1579511623. Retrieved May 17, 2014.

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-"'''Question authority'''" is a popular slogan often used on [[bumper sticker]]s, T-shirts and as [[graffiti]]. The slogan was popularized by controversial [[psychologist]] [[Timothy Leary]],<ref name=pppqpvab51>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoLjB4x0hMoC&q=question+authority+socrates+timothy+leary&pg=PA22|title=Question Authority; Think for Yourself|author1=Beverly Potter|author2=Mark Estren|publisher=Ronin Publishing|page=22|year=2012|isbn=978-1579511623|accessdate=May 17, 2014}}</ref> although some people have suggested that the idea behind the slogan can be traced back to the ancient [[Greek philosopher]] [[Socrates]].<ref>http://radicalreference.info/node/832</ref> One of the most influential icons in the [[counterculture movement]] which formed in the late 1960s out of opposition to the [[Vietnam War]]'s escalation, Leary gained influence among much of the youth by advocating the use of [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] – which was criminalized in the [[United States]] in 1966<ref name=pppqpvab287 /> –  as a way to escape from the burdens of society.<ref name=pppqpvab287>{{cite book|title=The Sixties Chronicle|author=David Farber|publisher=Legacy Publishing|page=287|year=2004|isbn=141271009X }}</ref>  Following the [[Watergate Scandal]], which resulted in the resignation of [[US President]] [[Richard Nixon]] and the conviction of several officials in the Nixon administration, the slogan became arguably the most accepted form of ideology among [[baby boomers]].<ref name=pppqpvab48>{{cite book|title=The Sixties Chronicle|author=David Farber|publisher=Legacy Publishing|page=448|year=2004|isbn=141271009X }}</ref>
+"'''Question authority'''" is a popular slogan often used on [[bumper sticker]]s, T-shirts and as [[graffiti]]. The slogan was popularized by controversial [[psychologist]] [[Timothy Leary]],<ref name=pppqpvab51>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoLjB4x0hMoC&q=question+authority+socrates+timothy+leary&pg=PA22|title=Question Authority; Think for Yourself|author1=Beverly Potter|author2=Mark Estren|publisher=Ronin Publishing|page=22|year=2012|isbn=978-1579511623|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref> although some people have suggested that the idea behind the slogan can be traced back to the ancient [[Greek philosopher]] [[Socrates]].<ref>http://radicalreference.info/node/832</ref> One of the most influential icons in the [[counterculture movement]] which formed in the late 1960s out of opposition to the [[Vietnam War]]'s escalation, Leary gained influence among much of the youth by advocating the use of [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|LSD]] – which was criminalized in the [[United States]] in 1966<ref name=pppqpvab287 /> –  as a way to escape from the burdens of society.<ref name=pppqpvab287>{{cite book|title=The Sixties Chronicle|author=David Farber|publisher=Legacy Publishing|page=287|year=2004|isbn=141271009X }}</ref>  Following the [[Watergate Scandal]], which resulted in the resignation of [[US President]] [[Richard Nixon]] and the conviction of several officials in the Nixon administration, the slogan became arguably the most accepted form of ideology among [[baby boomers]].<ref name=pppqpvab48>{{cite book|title=The Sixties Chronicle|author=David Farber|publisher=Legacy Publishing|page=448|year=2004|isbn=141271009X }}</ref>
-It is intended to encourage people to avoid fallacious [[argument from authority|appeals to authority]].  The term has always symbolized the necessity of paying attention to the rules and regulations promulgated by a government unto its citizenry.  However, psychologists have also criticized Leary's method of questioning authority and have argued that it resulted in widespread [[Manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions#Dysfunctions|dysfunctionality]].<ref name=uoooa>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoLjB4x0hMoC&q=question+authority+socrates+timothy+leary&pg=PA22|title=Question Authority; Think for Yourself|author1=Beverly Potter|author2=Mark Estren|publisher=Ronin Publishing|page=23|year=2012|isbn=978-1579511623|accessdate=May 17, 2014}}</ref>  In their book ''Question Authority, Think For Yourself'', psychologists Beverly Potter and Mark Estren alleged that the practice of Leary's philosophy enhances a person's self-interest and greatly weakens the ability to cooperate with others.
+It is intended to encourage people to avoid fallacious [[argument from authority|appeals to authority]].  The term has always symbolized the necessity of paying attention to the rules and regulations promulgated by a government unto its citizenry.  However, psychologists have also criticized Leary's method of questioning authority and have argued that it resulted in widespread [[Manifest and latent functions and dysfunctions#Dysfunctions|dysfunctionality]].<ref name=uoooa>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoLjB4x0hMoC&q=question+authority+socrates+timothy+leary&pg=PA22|title=Question Authority; Think for Yourself|author1=Beverly Potter|author2=Mark Estren|publisher=Ronin Publishing|page=23|year=2012|isbn=978-1579511623|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref>  In their book ''Question Authority, Think For Yourself'', psychologists Beverly Potter and Mark Estren alleged that the practice of Leary's philosophy enhances a person's self-interest and greatly weakens the ability to cooperate with others.
 However, Leary's philosophy was foreseen in concept by C. Wright Mills in his 1956 book, ''The Power Elite''. Quoting: "Authority ''formally'' resides ‘in the people,’ but the power of initiation is in fact held by small circles of men. That is why the standard strategy of manipulation is to make it appear that the people, or at least a large group of them, ‘really made the decision.’ That is why even when authority is available, men with access to it may still prefer the secret, quieter ways of manipulation.”  Mills noted earlier that "It is in this mixed case—as in the intermediate reality of the American today—that manipulation is a prime way of exercising power."

Revision as of 22:54, 10 January 2021

See also

References