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IMDB rating: 7.30 Plot: On November 16, 1959, Truman Capote reads about the murder of a Kansas family. There are no suspects. With Harper Lee, he visits the town: he wants to write about their response. First he must get locals to talk, then, after arrests, he must gain access to the prisoners. One talks constantly; the other, Perry Smith, says little. Capote is implacable, wanting the story, believing this book will establish a new form of reportage: he must figure out what Perry wants. Their relationship becomes something more than writer and character: Perry killed in cold blood, the state will execute him in cold blood; does Capote get his story through cold calculation, or is there a price for him to pay? |
Actors: Jones Toby,Rubin Mark,Schwelling Steve,Gill Glover Johns,Arteaga Rey,Sherburn Justin,Halbreich Andrew,Panes Michael,Curcio Frank G.,Biography,Drama,
Atheists…a legitimate scientific question?
I have a legitimate question, and I just want to hear from your population specifically and as far as I can tell this is where you appear to be.
Have you ever heard of the Milgram experiment ( an infamous psych experiment), ( a brief overview if not: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_exp eriment)
Once you’re a little aware of the study, my question is assuming you generally wouldn’t want to harm someone, would you honestly, under the influence of a scientific authority from Yale University, comply completely to something that you believed to be hurting someone severely?
Statistically, judging by the study nearly everyone would, however; I am wondering if you would justify such actions more so because you were following a trusted scientific authority?
Hold up I am not trying to disprove science by any means here, this is a legitimate question, no need for defense, obviously there is some pressure that comes from authority, this is seriously for debatable purposes.
I honestly would probably continue with the experiment too..statistically nearly everyone no matter what they believe would.
Sorry Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_exp eriment
Actually this study has been replicated many times. Statistically, people comply to authority. Doesn’t matter who it is. Didn’t know I’d be bursting some bubbles…
I’m well aware of it. No one can KNOW what they would do until it happens to them. No, I would sure like to think I would not, but everyone thinks that. People need to be consciously aware of studies like this so they can bring it to mind and stop themselves from repeating it when it happens to them.
Btw, you should read Zimbardo’s (of the Stanford prison experiment) book, "The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil,."
Ratz | Feb 03, 2010
Appeal to authority is a fallacy. Atheists aren’t big on fallacies.
Science is based on evidence, not authority. And your attempt to disprove science with science would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic.
LHOOQ | Feb 02, 2010
You mean as opposed to pulling out someone’s fingernails and burning them alive because you were following a trusted religious authority?
magpieix A.L.M.N. | Feb 02, 2010
could you please make short question , some of us are not so smart like you
Zita | Feb 02, 2010
Doubtfully.
Captain Jack | Feb 02, 2010
I took a different psych test in college and it showed I’m not very compliant.
EddieJ | Feb 02, 2010
Being an anarchist, I have an inherent problem with authority. Couple authority with harming someone, and I have twice the problem. I would never hurt a person just because someone said to, "authority" figure or not. Self-defense only.
Zombie | Feb 02, 2010
Interesting Question. I would like to ask the same thing of the Theists as well.
Arizona Knight Wolf | Feb 02, 2010
Your link didn’t go anywhere…
As an atheist, I don’t accept the existance of gods…
Having said that, I do not support the harming of anyone without their prior approval. Some people will volunteer willingly for experiments that will hurt or do harm to themselves…
interested1208 | Feb 02, 2010
I won’t bother to read about the Milgram experiment. I will, however, comment on your last question. There is no "trusted scientific authority" that will compel me to do anything that would disagree with my conscience and my moral standards – like "hurting someone severely."
This is in contrast to what you probably are capable of, if you’re a monotheist, as long as you are doing it in the name of God (or Allah) or Jesus. History is rife with stories of murder and mayhem committed by the righteous in the name of their deities.
Miguel K | Feb 02, 2010
I’ve done the opposite in many cases involving authorities and it not meshing with my morals.
There is are times when I think the person’s request is reasonable and not really bad. I do not follow anyone’s sense of morals but my own. A scientist who tries to push such an authority on me is someone whom I do not want to befriend or listen to.
Yahoo Avatar | Feb 02, 2010
I don’t respond to "authority figures." I judge a person by what they say. Even very intelligent individuals say stupid things from time to time, and there is no one I am so enamoured of that I would disregard those things out of hand. As for hurting somebody, there would have to be a damn good reason. I’ve never hurt anyone in my life, and I’m not about to start. If your god came down to earth, proved his existence to me, and told me to hurt someone, he’d have to give me a damn good reason. Otherwise, I’d tell him to shove it. Obviously, the same goes for any scientist.
Father Tucker | Feb 02, 2010
I don’t think I woulda played the game when I was younger either.
I’m not a psychopath… I’ve always had empathy for my fellow travelers.
~
Everard G | Feb 02, 2010
No. I have a problem with authority to begin with. No to the second question. We on the internet, call people like this sheep or sheeple. Too idiotic to think for themselves and recognize right and wrong.
Skirt | Feb 02, 2010
I’m well aware of the Milgram experiment. I’m a skeptic, and I don’t trust a scientific claim because a scientist makes it. Scientific claims have research to back them up. You seem to be under the impression that atheists treat scientists like theists treat religious leaders.
This isn’t a legitimate scientific question, it’s an indictment. Of the atheist in your imagination.
Corey | Feb 02, 2010
We don’t worship science.
We don’t regard scientists as authorities over us.
We don’t rely on scientists to guide us.
We don’t look to science to tell us how to live.
Please get that straight. We’re not just theists who decided to worship science instead of a god.
lainiebsky | Feb 02, 2010
The whole point of science is to NOT have authorities. Everything is open to honest questioning. The final verdict is always nature.
Jesus Love | Feb 02, 2010
i can’t justify hurting someone for any reason other than self defense… so no. i don’t really understand why this is aimed at atheists though.
Jem | Feb 02, 2010
If this is what you mean. ‘The Milgram’s experiment on obedience to authority figures’. The participants were willing volunteer students.
Under no circumstances would I deliberately hurt anyone. But such things are subjective like how long is a bit of string. If someone can’t take the truth for example, that’s not my problem.
I don’t follow authority figures, in my culture you are expected to rule yourself. If someone has to order people to do something, they are no leader.
Practicing Shaman… quantum physics rocks.
Shaman Val | Feb 02, 2010
I’ve encountered this study in a few of my classes. It’s really fascinating and, in fact, quite controversial.
Personally, I’m grateful I had the opportunity to study this in school. I feel everyone should. Before we act, regardless of who is giving us permission, we should be sure our actions coincide with what is morally sound… this experiment reminds us of this.
Yay for learning 
Soapee | Feb 02, 2010
I want to thank you for the link, it was very interesting. After reading it I sincerely hope that I have a higher moral standard then the 6x% of the people, but without actually being in the experiment, I have no idea. But I have to wonder…
bunny | Feb 02, 2010
Very familiar with the experiment, and is a classic example of how people believe what they are told to believe as being factual, and prayed on their gullibility for blind acceptance of perceived authority.
I’d bet atheists would be more suspicious of the "test" than those who are religious, since we tend to question authority until we can prove its legitimacy. To consider we’d be more likely to "trust" a perceived scientific authority is not logical at all since we would be inherently questioning the whole experiment from the outset and would really be alarmed when the subject was apparently in great pain. Sounds like you assume us atheists don’t have morals. Most I know have much stronger morals than the so called religious people I know.
Jasper | Feb 02, 2010
Roy Sweet