bilby
Fair dinkum thinkum
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2007
- Messages
- 35,610
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- Strong Atheist
Loyalty is typically presented as a virtue, but I am increasingly of the opinion that it's the exact opposite.
Loyalty implies support for a person regardless of the morality of what they do, or what they ask you to do on their behalf.
To be loyal implies the suspension of your own moral code and moral judgement, in favour of someone else's, and this shouldn't be necessary, if what they are doing or requesting is morally justified - if you would have complied with their requests, orders, or commands regardless of from whom they had issued, then loyalty is needless; If you would not, then loyalty causes you to do something you would otherwise consider to be wrong.
It's clear that loyalty is a desirable trait to find in one's supporters, particularly if you are an immoral leader, and doubtless that is why historically it is portrayed as virtuous and good; But it's in fact a lever by which people who are not good can gain the support or acquiescence of people who are good.
Loyalty is one of the least desirable traits an individual can express. Nationalism is a subset of loyalty. Trust is not. Trust is justified loyalty, and can be withdrawn from a leader who becomes, or is shown to be, untrustworthy.
Loyalty is the fundamental underpinning of authoritarianism. It needs to die.
Loyalty implies support for a person regardless of the morality of what they do, or what they ask you to do on their behalf.
To be loyal implies the suspension of your own moral code and moral judgement, in favour of someone else's, and this shouldn't be necessary, if what they are doing or requesting is morally justified - if you would have complied with their requests, orders, or commands regardless of from whom they had issued, then loyalty is needless; If you would not, then loyalty causes you to do something you would otherwise consider to be wrong.
It's clear that loyalty is a desirable trait to find in one's supporters, particularly if you are an immoral leader, and doubtless that is why historically it is portrayed as virtuous and good; But it's in fact a lever by which people who are not good can gain the support or acquiescence of people who are good.
Loyalty is one of the least desirable traits an individual can express. Nationalism is a subset of loyalty. Trust is not. Trust is justified loyalty, and can be withdrawn from a leader who becomes, or is shown to be, untrustworthy.
Loyalty is the fundamental underpinning of authoritarianism. It needs to die.