The Problem of Political Authority
"Modern states commonly deploy coercion in a wide array of circumstances in which the resort to force would clearly be wrong for any private agent. What entitles the state to behave in this manner? And why should citizens obey its commands? This book examines theories of political authority, from the social contract theory, to theories of democratic authorization, to fairness- and consequence-based theories. Ultimately, no theory of authority succeeds, and thus no government has the kind of authority often ascribed to governments. The author goes on to discuss how voluntary and competitive institutions could provide the central goods for the sake of which the state is often deemed necessary, including law, protection from private criminals, and national security. An orderly and livable society thus does not require acquiescence in the illusion of political authority."--Publisher's website.
Stats for nerds
11recommend
25mentions
13people
2013–2026years
76% recommend24% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- I find this comment a bit odd. There is a ton of literature on the topic, as well as lively debate online. I would recommend both The Machinery of Freedom by David Friedman and Michael Huemer’s The Problem of Political Authority (specifically pt 2) as great readings on the topic.
If one judges any idea by the average discourse on internet forums, especially throwaway comments, and trolling, no idea would ever stand up to scrutiny.
- The Elephant in the Brain
The Enigma of Reason
The Problem of Political Authority
- I would vastly prefer private security forces to provide defense for me than the police. History is full of examples of neighborhoods and ethnic groups organizing their own defenses to manage misbehavior from within and without those groups.
The existence of police dramatically harms the possibility of an ideal society, because they do so much violence with such immunity.
You seem to think that I believe that the status quo is somehow acceptable or tolerable.
This is like saying 'if the US military didn't initiate war against another country, how would it ensure compliance of that population with the wishes of the United States?'
Obviously the answer is to not go to war, and not concern oneself with whether or not another population is sufficiently compliant.
The full and detailed answer to your question is outlined in a book titled 'The problem of political authority: and examination on the right to coerce and the duty to obey'
- My general recommendation would be to read a really high-quality book by a philosopher on an issue you care about. Here are some I would recommend:
* ‘superintelligence’ by Nick Bostrom
* ‘Down Girl: the logic of misogyny’ by Kate Manne
* ‘dialogues on ethical vegetarianism’ or ‘The Problem of Political Authority’ by Michael Huemer.
These are admittedly not going to cover the so-called big questions of philosophy, or survey the history of epistemology. But, like Michael Huemer, I think that most works of philosophy are not worth reading, so that you might as well start with something really good and work backwards (e.g. pick one of these books and then read any of the references that sound interesting).
Peter Singer is someone whose books you could pick up and read straight through as well.
- I think that trying to develop your own ethical/moral reasoning on a subject this complex is quite haphazard; you seem to be trying to carve-out/describe a nuanced position, but there are a lot of problems with your reasoning. To be clear, this is a tough subject, and I am not trying to impugn your motives in any way.
My view is that government authority is at its perigee when it comes to free speech, and that any regulation is both problematic and suspect. This stems from Huemer's convincing arguments in "The Problem of Political Authority".
- I've never created a reading list, so this was a fun exercise.
Programming:
* Analyzing Computer System Performance with Perl::PDQ - Gunther
* The Mythical Man Month - Brooks
Philosophy:
* A Journey Around my Room - de Maistre
* Anger, Mercy, and Revenge - Seneca
* Schrödinger - What is Life?
* Man's Search for Meaning - Frankl
* Essays - Montaigne
* Ethical Intuitionism - Huemer
* The Consolations of Philosophy - de Botton
* A Manual for Living - Epictetus
* Meditations - Aurelius
Psychology / Meaning / Purpose / Science:
* Purpose and Meaning in the Workplace - Dik, Byrne & Steger
* The Case Against Education - Caplan
* Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids - Caplan
* Dawkins - The Selfish Gene
* A Confession - Tolstoy
* Enlightenment Now - Pinker
* The Better Angels of our Nature - Pinker
* The Improving State of the World - Goklany
* The Skeptical Environmentalist - Lomborg
* Religion for Atheists - de Botton
* Ending Aging - de Grey
* Gut Feelings - Gigirenzer
Fiction:
* Heart of Darkness - Conrad
* Candide - Voltaire
* Brave New World - Huxley
* Selected Works - Goethe
* 1984 & Animal Farm - Orwell
Politics:
* Obedience to Authority - Milgram
* The Problem of Political Authority - Huemer
* The Communist Manifesto - Marx
* Socialism - von Mises
* Just One Child - Greenhalgh
* The God That Failed - Crossman
* Death by Government - Rummel
Thought-provoking:
* Free to Learn - Gray
* The Beautiful Tree - Tooley
* Education and the State - West
* The Machinery of Freedom - Friedman
* Against Intellectual Monopoly - Boldrine & Levine
* From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State - Beito
* The Not So Wild, Wild West - Hill
* More Guns, Less Crime - Lott
* Race & Economics - Williams
* Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men - Hummel
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