Growing Pains or Societal Decline?

    Disobedience. I used to practice this concept day in and day out when I was younger.  I remember scribbling on the carpet and couch with a permanent marker. I remember staying up past my bedtime playing video games. What did all of these devious actions lead to? What else did they accomplish besides a well-deserved time-out and grounding? 

    Thus, I didn’t achieve anything meaningful through my immature actions. It wasn’t through disobedience that I learned not to do those things. I continued to play video games at 1 AM once my punishment duration was over. It was simply through obedience and the natural cognitive development of humans, that I was able to distinguish between right and wrong. Therefore, disobedience does not always mean or lead to progress. 

    The evidence for this argument can be seen by examining the state of the world today. In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, promptly disobeying international law and the orders of the UN. What has this achieved for the world and humanity? Is a full-scale war a progression of society? Are we going to pat each other on the back for burning a hole in America’s wallet? Are we really going to count the increasing death toll of innocent citizens as an achievement? 

    Admittedly, there are examples in history of disobedience leading to progression. The US, for example, wouldn’t have existed without rebellion and resistance. However, the extent to which Wilde’s argument is true is limited and not absolute. Disobedience can lead to many things, some of which can indeed be classified as progress. Nonetheless, disobedience can also lead to regression and disarray.