Disobedience as virtue

October 25th, 2023

It is given that since humankind emerged from primordial innocence, a narrative pushed by kings, priests, lords, bosses of any kind, and parents was that obedience is a virtue and disobedience is a vice. Very few were able to go against it. I know I haven't got the balls to do it yet. But let’s look at it from a different point of view — human history began with an act of disobedience, and most likely will be terminated by an act of obedience. In all myths — the emergence of humankind and the development of our consciousness was the end result of disobedience — either by Adam and Eve, or Prometheus, or by any other long-forgotten god or demi-god or hero who rebelled against the way things were and against arbitrary rules set by the rulers of Heaven and Earth.

Before that act of disobedience, people were a part of nature only, without the ability and even knowledge that they could transcend it. Then we were safely encapsulated by the constant laws of nature and were humans by a physical aspect only — like a child is a womb. All that changed when a direct order was disobeyed. It resulted in breaking the ties with the earth-mother and only then, by cutting (or ripping away) the umbilical cord, people emerged from a pre-human harmony and were able to finally open their eyes and look within. Disobedience and resulting punishment were events that gave us the ability to retrospect and analyze our actions. It made us aware of the power to say no or to ask questions and to hold those in power to the same standard as was expected of us. Still, it is a rare gift to be able to engage in disobedience while well knowing the potential consequences.