Is Political Authority an Illusion?

What gives some people the right to issue commands to everyone else and force everyone else to obey them? And why should people obey the commands of those with political power? These two key questions are the heart of the issue of political authority, and, in this volume, two philosophers debate the answers.

"This is an outstanding book that I look forward to using in teaching. It is ideally suited to a political philosophy or philosophy of law class. The writing is very accessible and the arguments sharply focussed. As in any good debate, one finds oneself changing one's mind, after reading each chapter! The authors do an excellent job, and I recommend this book enthusiastically."
*John Martin Fischer, University of California, Riverside

• Autorentext

Michael Huemer is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. He is the author of more than 70 academic articles in ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and metaphysics, as well as seven amazing books that you should immediately buy, including The Problem of Political Authority (2013), Dialogues on Ethical Vegetarianism (2019), and Justice Before the Law (2021).

Daniel Layman is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Davidson College, USA and specializes in political theory and the history of political thought. He is the author of numerous articles in leading journals and the book, Locke Among the Radicals: Liberty and Property in the Nineteenth Century (2020).

Matt Zwolinski is Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy at the University of San Diego, USA.

Inhalt

Foreword by Matt Zwolinski 1. The Illusion of Authority, by Michael Huemer 2. Rights, Respect, and Equality: The Basis of Authority, by Daniel Layman 3. A Reply to Layman: On Legitimacy and Disobedience, by Michael Huemer 4. A Reply to Huemer: Accountability, Methodology, and Respect, by Daniel Layman 5. A Second Reply to Layman on Authority, by Michael Huemer 6. A Second Reply to Huemer on Authority, by Daniel Layman