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Article: The demise of moral authority. (Column)
- Article from:
- USA TODAY
- Article date:
- September 1, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 Society for the Advancement of Education. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Most Americans understand authority as the right and power to command, enforce laws, and exact obedience. Since the 1960s, this sort of authority has been in deep trouble as places such as Miami, the Bronx, and Los Angeles all have vented their spleen against the forces of government and civilization.
There also is the authority that is the power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge. For instance, we have scholars, physicians, and accountants who, as authorities, can serve as expert witnesses in their respective fields. We used to regard such people as worthy of belief and trust. However, this type of authority also has been challenged as, in an ...