The perils of obedience

Answer

1. Rojan Taheri

   Professor Krooth

   English 122

   October 31, 2020

   The Perils of Obedience

   Stanly Milgram in the Perils of Obedience indicates that obedience is a fundamental social life element as an individual can consider. According to Milgram, a system of authority is a necessity of all communal existence. It is only an individual dwelling in solitude that is not forced to respond, with resistance or submission, to other individuals' instructions (Milgram 41). In his work, Stanley Milgram indicates that compliance is a deeply embedded characteristic tendency for some individuals, certainly a compelling urge superseding guidance in ethics, compassion, and moral conduct (Milgram 41).  Milgram set up an experiment to evaluate the legal and philosophical aspects of obedience. The investigation incorporated two people, a learner and a teacher. The experiment aimed to assess the level of pain an ordinary individual can impose on another individual basically because an experimental scientist or authoritative figure orders him/her. This paper seeks to identify some specific individuals in the experiment and explain their actions in the experiments.

   The experiment incorporated different subjects, but ones who cannot go unnoticed are Gretchen Brandt, Fred Pozi, and Morris Braverman. Gretchen Brandt's actions are described as firm and resolute human throughout the experiment. On various occasions when the learner complained, she would “coolly” enquire from the experimenter if she is to continue “shall I continue” (Milgram 43). When instructed to continue, she would proceed with doubts. At some point, she stopped following the orders from the experimenter after noticing that learner was experiencing too much pain. “Well, I’am sorry, I don’t think we should continue” (Milgram 43). Observing the situation, Brandit refused to continue with the experiment because she possessed empathy and moral conduct. She felt it was wrong continuing since the man had informed them of his heart conditions “He has heart conditions, I am sorry. He told you that before” (Milgram 43). By taking her stand not to continue, this presents disobedience, a rational and straightforward deed. 

   The other individual is Fred Pozi. Unlike Brandt, Fred Pozi proceeded with the experiment regardless of his empathy and moral conduct. He obeyed the experimenter’s instructions despite not being comfortable with the pain the learner was experiencing. Fred Pozi was mainly worried about who will take responsibility for any harm that the learner encounters. At some point, he asks the experimenter, "You accept all responsibility?" (Milgram 47).  On some occasions, Pozi demonstrates empathy by asking the experimenter to check on the learner after he had stopped screaming, “Don’t you think you should look on him, please?” (Milgram 47). However, Pozi continued with the experiment since he was obeying the experimenter’s instructions regardless of his thoughts regarding the situation.  

   The third individual in the experiment with astonishing characters is Morris Braverman. Described as an intelligent and concerned man, Braverman took pleasure in obeying the experimenter's instructions. At some point, he is seen telling the learner with confidence, “Mr. Wallace your silence has to be considered as wring a wrong answer” (Milgram 47). He is laughing as the learner experiences shock pains. Conclusively, besides obeying the instructions, Braverman continued with the experiment since he seemed to find pleasure in punishing others or watching them experience pain. On the other hand, Gretchen Brandt refused to continue since she possessed empathy and moral conduct. Fred Pozi proceeded since he was obeying orders.

    

    

Answer

Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” Movie Analysis

            While delivering a speech, persuasion is essential in convincing the audience to listen to their ideas in their address. In An Inconvenient Truth, former US Vice President Al – Gore speaks on global warming as an encroaching crisis affecting its atmosphere and the environment as his central message. Al- Gore effectively persuades the audience into joining his cause against global warming by using persuasive communication strategies, a solid introduction, rhetoric strategies, oral citations, proper speech delivery, and presentation aids to evoke the audience in supporting his cause.

            Al- Gore’s successfully incorporates a solid speech introduction to attract the audience’s attention. He begins the introduction with a joke alluding to him being the “former future president of the United States.” The use of such a satirical comment evokes the audience wondering who would be bold enough to stand on stage after losing a race, such as the presidential election. This captures the audience to be more involving in his speech and sit for a better listening into the matters at hand. Later on, he introduces his speech topic by focusing on his central message, outlining his whole address's main points. Finally, it eases the audience by showing a mangrove parchment indicated to involve the audience in relating to a preserved environment before expounding on his speech. The audience is engaged after this as he gets into his central message and further engaging in his speech.

Al-Gore's excellently persuades the audience by using ethos as a rhetorical strategy throughout the speech.  Ethos employs a sense of trustworthiness and competence that enables the audience to believe in the speaker's credibility. He shows ethos by acknowledging his commitment to the earth as an environmental activist. Al- Gore's speech is based on expansive research that helps the audience trust his competence in speaking on the issue. Al- Gore's possesses charisma and positive energy that attracts the audience to remain rooted in listening to his appeal towards addressing global warming. As characteristics of applying ethos in a speech, the combination of dynamism and competence draws the crowd to become trustworthy with his presentation and remains attentive throughout the address.

Al- Gore’s effectively employs persuasive communication strategies that include positive motivation, negative motivation, cognitive dissonance, non-verbal communication, and appeals to self-esteem in his speech. Positive and negative motivations are essential in persuading the audience to venture into addressing global warming to achieve positive outcomes in the environment. Consequently, Al-Gore uses negative motivation to convince the audience that failure to look into measures of curbing global warming and climate change, the earth might end up like the few places he depicts in his comparison photographs and videos. Cognitive dissonance helps change one's perspective to something by discomforting norms and beliefs to persuade an audience towards change. At the start of the documentary, Al-Gore introduces a short video of a beautiful mangrove parchment that would stay in the back of the audience's mind on what should be safeguarded.  To destabilize the audience, he shows pictorials of areas devastated by global warming, evoking fear and panic for the world that has become dormant in addressing this issue. Intertwined, with his central idea, Al- Gore persuades the audience in a bleak and disheartened tone to fight for preserving the environment.

            In addition, Al-Gore’s effectually uses non-verbal communication in his body language is established through a dejected worrying tone for identifying with the audience on the prevailing situation. Al- Gore’s body movement showed confidence in his walk and constant interactiveness with the audience. Al – Gore also has a confiden, genuine smile appearing as a well- groomed and dressed man in delivering his speech. In the documentary, Al-Gore's clear expression of displeasure with people who negated around global warming instead of addressing is clear.  Al-Gore aimed to show concern for the issue. Al –Gore's self-esteem pushes his central message across the audience by focusing on positivity and the audience's contributions to curb global warming. His articulation of each point across helps in building confidence with the audience. His confidence in his speech persuades the audience to be on board the matter.

            Oral citations are well used in An Inconvenient Truth to capture the audience's attention. Al- Gore uses oral citations effectively to show reliability, credibility, and validity of information conveyed in his speech address. Denoting empirical evidence from videos, charts, and maps allude the audience into believing that Al- Gore critically researched the issue and came up with a profound speech to convince the audience to join his cause to remove fallacies on wrong information presented in his speech. Virtually, his research pays off as he captures the audience in his factual interactions on the matter.

Al – Gore excellently uses presentation aids like projected images, comparison photographs, short videos, satirical cartoons, and info graphs like maps and charts to help persuade his audience to come to his plea in preserving the environment by combating global warming. Projected images show areas adversely affected by global warming, including flooded areas. The short videos as well show people injured due to flooding. The graphs and maps show empirical evidence of the effects of global warming in areas. A comparison of videos and pictures shows how some places were before global warming and its impact after years. All these visual aids serve as areas involving the audience's concern and worry over the deteriorating ecosystem around us. Al-Gore was not shy off, including videos of politicians passing over the global warming issue through satirical cartoons while also poking at renowned scientists worldwide who showed the existence of climate change. As much as Al-Gore is a politician, he intended for the audience to understand that his concern was for the environment and endeavors towards combating global warming rather than politically-driven shows with aspirations of a political seat.

Lastly, Al- Gore successfully uses ethos, pathos, and logos strategies to capture the audience's attention in his speech. Ethos employs a sense of trustworthiness and competence that enables the audience to believe in the speaker's credibility. He shows ethos by acknowledging his commitment to the earth as an environmental activist. The documentary shows the incorporation of logos through his presentation of scientific facts that support his claims to global warming as an issue of concern. Lastly, his attributes to incorporate his son's demise into comparing it to his commitment to the environment show pathos as a rhetoric strategy.  Successful integration of photographs and videos of areas affected by global warming helped provoke the audience to support his cause towards alleviating global warming.

In conclusion, Al – Gore effectively incorporates persuasive communication strategies, a solid introduction, rhetoric strategies, oral citations, proper speech delivery, and presentation aids to evoke the audience in supporting his fight against global warming.  Using all these techniques successfully convinces the audience to have a concern about the deteriorating ecosystem. Having watched the documentary, I am persuaded to carry on the legacy of conserving our environment as an environmental ambassador.         

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