Loyalty

Loyalty is a mankind virtue to follow the cause that he/she has chosen in a full autonomous and voluntary capacity. It is the willing devotion of a self to exercise his rights to liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. Furthermore, loyalty entails to be faithful to other’s rights. So, “loyalty is good for all men.” (Royce). There is loyalty to your family. There is loyalty to your business. There is loyalty to the nation. There is loyalty to your neighbor. Among all, the most important loyalty, is to yourself. Thou, “loyalty, as we have all along seen, depends upon a very characteristic and subtle union of natural interest, and of free choice.” (Royce).

Loyalty should not be in any case a virtue to be exercise in blind obedience. This blind loyalty to organizations, to higher authorities or even to particular missions has caused massive killings such as the act of genocide in World War II by Hitler's soldiers (see Nuremberg trial). Also, at Jonestown on November 18, 1978 at the "People's Temple" where a mass suicide-murder under the direction of their leader Jim Jones occurred. This phenomenon has been studied by Psychologist Stanley Milgram at Yale University, in a well-recognized experiment called “The Milgram's Experiment”. With this experiment, Milgrant concluded that ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure, even to the extent of killing an innocent human being. People tend to obey orders from other people if they recognize their authority as morally right and / or legally based.

In addition, justice and benevolence should accompany any act of loyalty or obedience. They are in so far “aspects of loyalty which directly concerns itself with your influence upon the inner life of human beings who enjoy, who suffer, and whose private good is to be affected by your deeds.” (Royce). So we are to protect the welfare of other selves. In addition, we must treat others as we want them to treat us.

In regard to loyalty to the Highest self “God”. This is a totally different relation. God ask us to be loyal to Him. His call for loyalty is also a call for justice and benevolence to your neighbor. When He ask for an action to show your loyalty, we shall believe that He is first loyal to Himself above all. Loyal to His word, to His promise. The episode presented in Genesis 22, where He asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son to Him. Abraham acted in full knowledged and faithful that God would be loyal to His promise previously expressed: “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” (Gen. 17: 1-2).

In conclusion, loyalty is a virtue that we must follow in a rational and balanced way, without abandoning other virtues. Recognizing, that above all, we should be loyalty to ourselves.

References:

1. Billikopf Encina, Gregorio. "Milgram's Experiment on Obedience to Authority." University of California, 15 Nov. 2004. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://nature.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7article/article35.htm>.
2. "Anatomy of a Hostile Takeover," Ethics in America [videocassette]. Columbia University Seminars on Media & Society [in association with] WNET/New York, 1989; producers, Betsy Miller, Martha Elliott; directed by David Deutsch.
3. Newton, Lisa H. Ethics in America: Study Guide. NJ: Upper Saddle River, 2004. Print
4. Newton, Lisa H. Ethics in America: Source Reader. NJ: Upper Saddle River, 2004. Print
5. "Jonestown." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 1 Jan. 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/jonestown>.