The Spook of Authority: School, Career, and Beyond
Egoist Psychoanalysis Part III: The Authority Figure & Institutions
Authority surrounds us, shaping who we become, what we believe, and what we desire. Two primary arenas where this authoritarian influence operates are school and careers, or the corporate world and public service. But what is authority, really? Why does it exist? Why do we accept it, and how does it affect our lives and relationships?
Max Stirner, the 19th-century egoist philosopher, provides some perspective on this. He calls authority a spook—a phantom that takes control of our lives, trapping us in roles we never truly chose and were too vulnerable to consent to.
And that is what essay will explore - i.e. the pervasive nature of authority, beginning with our formative years in school, transitioning into the world of work, including military service and corporate structures, and ultimately examining the fundamentals of reclaiming our sense of self from these invisible forces.
School – The First Taste of Authority
Our first encounter with formal authority occurs in school, where we learn to submit to societal rules and structures. The teacher stands as the ultimate authority figure, dictating what to learn, how to behave, and determining bs ideals like correctness. Stirner argues that this dynamic runs deeper than mere rule-following; it serves a greater purpose: to shape us into compliant citizens. So, teachers, in essence, are agents of higher authority figures, reinforcing a system that views individuals as mere numbers or statistics. But it doesn’t stop there. There is always someone pulling strings.
In any case…in school, we internalize authority, and tend to learn to view submission as a natural state. Reflecting on our educational experiences, we might question: Why are we taught what we are taught? Why do we passively absorb information for hours, only to regurgitate it during exams? I identify this process as spookification—education, particularly in its conventional form, discourages critical or creative thinking which is kind of direct proof of it being a covert operation. Instead, the idea is to mold us into obedient workers, and, most of all, philosophical soldiers who advocate for the ideals necessary to infiltrate subjectivity on a grand scale.
The Hidden Curriculum
Examining the school curriculum reveals this crucial aspect of authority. Beyond explicit subjects like math and science lies a deeper lesson: how to follow rules, respect authority, and conform to societal norms without questioning them. So, basically…spooks are created not by force but by the internalization of authority as necessary and rightful.
For those who challenge authority, there are punishments: detentions, bad grades, isolation, shame, and guilt. We quickly learn that submission is rewarded, while freedom is punished. Over time, the desire to fit in becomes part of our psyche.
Lacan’s concept of the “Symbolic Order” elucidates this dynamic, and illustrates how society's unwritten rules shape our desires through linguistic structures. We aspire to be good students, having absorbed the expectation that conformity leads to stability and the avoidance of pain.
Part 2: Career Life – The Illusion of Freedom
As we transition into adulthood, the spook of authority intensifies alongside previous rebellion and punishment. After leaving school, many enter the workforce or the military, where authority manifests in new forms. Jobs, particularly corporate roles, promote the idea of ‘career progression’ and ‘self-actualization.’ Yet, I wonder: What does that truly entail? Well…I would say that it signifies continued servitude to external authorities—be it a boss, a corporation, or a military hierarchy.
Consider the average 9-to-5 job: while we work for a paycheck, there exists a deeper level of control. We are led to believe that our work is a path to something greater—personal fulfillment, perhaps. Yet, how often do we genuinely associate our work with happiness? So as one ascends the corporate ladder, I would suggest to question whose success we are pursuing. Ultimately, the concept of the ‘successful worker’ is merely another spook.
The Military – Authority in Its Purest Form
The military represents a more overt form of authority, where submission is not just expected but demanded. Here, individuals are trained to follow orders without question, and to basically enjoy sacrificing their individuality for the “greater good.” So, this is where I consider what this greater good truly represents for the people who align their identity with this profession. Is it the nation? The state? What assurance do we have in these institutions that compel us to invest our entire being?
Anna Freud’s defense mechanisms provide insight into why individuals might choose military service as a path to identity. By aligning with a cause greater than themselves, they temporarily escape feelings of inadequacy and gain a sense of belonging. Melanie Klein’s work on object relations further elucidates how early experiences shape the need for validation through external structures.
In the military, authority is embodied in the chain of command, where individuals are conditioned to value the collective over personal autonomy. But I would say that the 'ideal soldier,' like the 'ideal student,' is a constructed identity perpetuating nothing more than power. Loyalty to the state or any authority is another spook that demands sacrifices of freedom for an entity that does not reciprocate.
The Corporate World – The New Spook of Authority
In the corporate realm, the spook of authority takes a more insidious form. We are sold the idea of self-improvement, career advancement, and contributing to a noble mission. Yet, at what cost? We are told our value lies in how well we serve the company, not in our individual desires or needs. Doesn’t that put us at risk of losing ourselves in this spookiness?
Lacan’s concept of the “Big Other” illuminates the tension between societal expectations and personal aspirations. Individuals often navigate the demands of the Big Other—corporate culture—against the reflections of the small other—peers and mentors. This interplay can lead to feelings of alienation or fulfillment, contingent upon how well one aligns their desires with these influences.
Psychological Effects – The Internalized Authority
As we internalize these spooks of authority, we bear their psychological weight. Stirner's critique transcends philosophy; it dives straight into the depths of our psyche. Once we internalize authority, it ceases to be an external force. We begin to self-police, shouldering the burden of expectations without the need for external enforcement. Freud’s concept of the superego becomes salient here—the aspect of our mind that punishes us for deviating from societal norms.
Yet, these norms and duties are not real; they are constructs—spooks. The pressing question remains: Why do we continue to obey? What compels us to cling so tightly to these phantoms?
The Egoist Response – Breaking Free from Authority
If we uncover the reasons behind our compliance, we may want to then explore how to liberate ourselves from the spook of authority. Stirner’s solution is deceptively simple: what he did was to recognize that authority is not real. The moment we perceive roles—student, worker, soldier, citizen—as constructs, we begin to reclaim our autonomy.
However, Stirner does not advocate for a blanket rejection of education, work, or authority. He does not advocate for anything. Instead, I would probably approach this by ceasing to serve these structures blindly. An egoist would likely acknowledge that authority holds value only when it aligns with personal interests. This does not equate to a hedonistic pursuit of pleasure either though, as such a path can lead us astray.
Consider this: if attending school facilitates genuine learning, then pursue it. If a job aligns with your personal goals, then engage in it. However, once you find yourself serving authority merely for its own sake or to render yourself ‘adequate’ to occupy space in this world, you become ensnared in the web of spooks.
Just remember: our minds are conditioned by the structures of our upbringing. As you venture further away from these confines, your psyche may attempt to reel you back in. It takes time and perseverance to sever these ties completely.
Works Cited or Used as Reference:
Stirner, Max. The Ego and Its Own. Translated by Steven T. Byington, 1907.
Freud, Sigmund. The Ego and the Id. Translated by James Strachey, 1923.
Lacan, Jacques. Écrits: A Selection. Translated by Bruce Fink, 2002.
Klein, Melanie. The Psychoanalysis of Children. 1932.
Freud, Anna. The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense. Translated by Anna Freud, 1936.
Zizek, Slavoj. The Sublime Object of Ideology. 1989.
Rancière, Jacques. The Ignorant Schoolmaster: Five Lessons in Intellectual Emancipation. 1987.
Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Translated by Alan Sheridan, 1977.