Knowledge and authority: the godfather fantasy

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Literature Analysis

Background:

• Human beings exhibit innate, often conflicting, tendencies towards obedience and rebellion.
• These tendencies manifest as submission to, or resistance/cooptation of, authority.
• Psychological theories, like Freud's 'thirst for obedience,' link these drives to early life experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose three strategies humans use to manage the need for transcendence.
• To connect these strategies to fundamental human tendencies of obedience and rebellion.
• To explore the role of ideology in mitigating existential anxieties.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of literary works, specifically Dostoevsky's 'The Grand Inquisitor' and Puzo's 'The Godfather', to illustrate social hierarchical control.
• Reference to empirical research, such as Stanley Milgram's studies on obedience.
• Theoretical exploration of psychological drives and their societal implications.

Main Results:

• Three proposed strategies for assuaging the need for transcendence: seizing divine power, submission to God, and the 'godfather fantasy'.
• Demonstration of the powerful influence of social hierarchy and the universal inclination towards obedience.
• Ideology functions to counteract life-long anxieties, including childhood fears and existential dread.

Conclusions:

• Both the will to power and the will to submission, particularly when amplified by ideology, can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
• Ideologically driven actions can result in greater devastation than personal conflicts or greed.
• Understanding these psychological and social dynamics is crucial for mitigating collective destructive behavior.