Philosophy 101
Study Questions:  Milgram, "The Perils of Obedience"


1.  Explain briefly the setup of the basic experiment.  What was it meant to test?  Briefly
       summarize the results.

2.  What sorts of variations were made on the basic experiment, and how did they affect the
       results?

3.  Milgram argues that the results are not explained by hidden sadism in the subjects.  What
       evidence does he offer to reject this explanation?

4.  What does Milgram think explains the obedience of the subjects?  What does he think makes
       this extreme obedience psychological possible (and common!)?

5.  Milgram notes at the beginning of the essay that societies depend on routine obedience of
       individual members.  What kinds of things might help a person become appropriately
       obedient (for example, appropriately law-abiding) without becoming obedient in the sense
       of the experiment?