The author discusses the problem of political authority in a common sens setting and how and why anarchocapitalism might be a better alternative. Dec 11, 2012 the problem of political authority is a masterpiece of using clear, commonsense arguments to arrive at radical conclusions. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. If, like me, you think anarchocapitalism sounds ridiculous, this is the book for you. So early on, i noted kind of a puzzle about government versus regular people. In part one, huemer argues that political authority is an illusion, that is, that governments do not actually have some special authority to coerce their citizens to do whatever they want them to do, and associated with that, citizens do not actually have any obligation to obey the governments ruling over them. The social contract theory is the most prominent account of authority in the last 400 years of philosophy and has as good a claim as any to being americas theory of authority. Michael huemer joins us this week for a discussion on political authority, political obligation, and political legitimacy. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey book.
The problem of political authority pdf download ebook pdf. Mike has generously agreed to field econlog readers questions. Each has notoriously foundered on difficult problems in the past, as is wellknown to students of political philosophy. Professor huemer, aaron powell, and trevor burrus tackle problems of political obligation, political legitimacy, and political authority, and explain the differences between each of these terms. Mar 04, 20 bryan caplan praises michael huemers work on the problem of political authority because it avoids the extremes of both rightsbased and consequentialist reasoning. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. Michael huemers challenge to the legitimacy of government. Huemer s central insight is that what political scientists call legitimacy, or what he calls political authority, is the most important stronghold that advocates of anarchocapitalism have to overcome in order to win the intellectual battle. Michael huemer calls the problem of political authority and, in his view, such authority does not exist. In the problem of political authority, michael huemer argues that the contractarian and consequentialist groundings of political authority are unsuccessful, and, in fact, that there are no adequate contemporary accounts of political authority.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The problem of political authority pdf download ebook. Michael huemer on political authority justice and hedonism. Review of michael huemers the problem of political. And yet, through careful reasoning that relies on commonly held ethical intuitions, huemer pulls off a. Michael huemer is a professor of philosophy at the university of colorado, boulder. Michael huemer explains that his argument against authority doesnt rest on any systematic theory of human nature. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey palgrave macmillan 20, michael huemer explores this puzzling phenomenon, and defends the. On the other hand, in the problem of political authority huemer explicitly grounds his arguments on a nap. Professor huemer, aaron, and trevor tackle problems of political obligation, political legitimacy, and political authority, and explain the differences between each of these terms. The problem of political authority by huemer, michael ebook. Review chris king 2016 journal of moral philosophy 4. The problem of political authority by michael huemer econlib. As such, the modern state is illegitimate and we have reasons to affirm political anarchism.
Michael huemers the problem of political authority 123. The problem of political authority michael huemer haftad. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey michael huemer auth. The problem of political authority with michael huemer. The problem of political authority pdf michael huemer the problem of political authority an examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. Michael huemer, the problem of political authority. Danny frederick, a critique of michael huemers the problem. Oct 29, 2012 in my view, michael huemer s new the problem of political authority. The first part of the book argues in detail for philosophical anarchism and refutes the legitimacy of political authority, while the second addresses political anarchism and the practical viability of. Michael huemer is the author of the problem of political authority 4. The problem of political authority university of colorado. I thought this was hard to believe, but after i read huemer s book i must say that i agree, insofar as it is best book on libertarianism that i have ever read.
The consequentialist explanation of political authority contends that great social. Considering nearly everyone allows some role for government, huemer has set himself a tall task. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey, ethics 124, no. Michael huemer author of the problem of political authority.
This is what michael huemer calls the problem of political authority and, in his view, such authority does not exist. Ultimately, no theory of authority succeeds, and thus no government has the kind of authority often ascribed to governments. Michael huemer the problem of political authority an examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. This book argues that this notion is a moral illusion. After reading this section, an openminded reader should believe that there is only 1 kind of good argument against anarchism and all other counterarguments are fallacious. Under the terms of the traditional social contract theory, then, political obligation is a species of contractual obligation. But the problem of coercion is a very serious one, and coercion should only be employed if there is really solid reason to justify it. Michael huemer is professor of philosophy at the university of colorado at boulder, usa, where he has worked since 1998.
Jan 17, 20 in my view, michael huemers new the problem of political authority. This consent grants the government political authority therefore showing the difference between a citizens actions and the governments actions. Review of michael huemers the problem of political authority. The problem of political authority is his best book yet. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey michael huemer on. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey is a book by university of colorado philosophy professor michael huemer released in january 20. Huemer examines the central justifications for political authority. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey, written by michael huemer. This book examines theories of political authority, from the social contract theory, to theories of democratic authorization, to fairness and consequencebased theories. In 2012, the libertarian bookshelf was expanded by a number of notable academic works. The state is often ascribed a special sort of authority, one that obliges citizens to. Aug 28, 2016 michael huemer on political authority by j.
Michael huemers book is an attack on the state, and on much of what modern states. Mar 05, 2017 in the problem of political authority. Theres no real contradiction, huemer was criticizing the nap as an absolute principle often invoked by some libertarians, whereas the nap he relies on is a body of common sense moral principles. Pdf epub the problem of political authority pp 319 cite as. Review of huemer, the problem of political authority. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey by michael huemer pdf, epub ebook d0wnl0ad 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. Mikael olsson in his 20 book the problem of political authority michael huemer attempts to defend the idea that states have no legitimate authority and that we should therefore move to an anarchic anarchocapitalist society.
An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey by michael huemer new york. Jun 26, 2015 michael huemers 20 book the problem of political authority sets out to prove a radical conjecture. As the title the problem of political authority suggests, a central issue in political philosophy is the nature and justification of the authority of the state. States claim to have authority, and this authority is simultaneously the basis for the individuals duty to obey the state and, should we be remiss in this duty, the states right to coerce. Isnt this a pretty basic intuitive supposition that is that the strongest would immediately cause chaos and people would suffer, and suffer greatly. Read download the problem of political authority pdf pdf. The theory holds that, at least in some countries, there is a contractual relationship between the government and its citizens. Huemer scrupulously reasons from widely shared moral premises to surprising conclusions. George klosko, michael huemer, the problem of political authority. Michael huemer s 20 book the problem of political authority sets out to prove a radical conjecture. Using moral premises you probably already accept, and clear but subtle arguments, huemer leads you stepbystep to a radical yet compelling conclusion.
Jan 30, 20 by now, i assume that everyone has read michael huemers the problem of political authority covertocover. In this case, huemer dismantles traditional arguments for why the state posesses legitimate political power and builds a fairly convincing case for anarchocapitalism, a system in which the usual functions of the state law and defense are left to the free market. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey by michael huemer. Please post them in the comments, and hell respond in a separate post in a few days. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey is the best book in the genre. The state is often ascribed a special sort of authority, one that obliges citizens to obey its commands and entitles the state to enforce those commands through threats of violence. Do not reproduce without permission of the publisher. Ebook human sciences philosophy general, encyclopedias michael huemer.
Huemer discusses the problems with political authority and the social contract i. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the problem of political authority. The problem of political authority by michael huemer the. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey, by michael huemer.
An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey kindle edition by huemer, michael. Click download or read online button to get the problem of political authority pdf book now. Myself the one who made the article and huemer author of the problem of political authority, who i quoted both assumed familiarity with the arguments of the second half of huemer s book. 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. He is the author of skepticism and the veil of perception and ethical intuitionism, as well as more than 40 articles in ethics, epistemology, political philosophy, and metaphysics.
Crucially however, this objection to redistributive taxation is no longer based on widely held moral intuitions and a view of political authority shared by many political philosophers. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey, respectfully disagrees with just about every sentiment expressed in the preceding paragraph. The state is often ascribed a special sort of authority, one that obliges citizens to obey its. Penultimate version for final authoritative version, please refer to text published in mind.
An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey transcript brennan. The problem of political authority the problem of political authority, says huemer sec. An examination of michael huemer s book on the right to coerce and the duty to obey. The first part of the book argues in detail for philosophical anarchism and refutes the legitimacy of political authority, while the second addresses. 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. The problem of political authority an examination of the.
The consequentialist explanation of political authority contends that great social benefits depend upon there being a state with political authority. In the problem of political authority, michael huemer levels a mighty challenge to the idea of political authority and what could take place in its stead. How could a state have the moral authority to promulgate and enforce laws that citizens are thereby obliged to obey. Michael huemer, the problem of political authority, molinari society group meeting, eastern apa, 122920. Michael huemer the problem of political authority an. In my view, michael huemer s new the problem of political authority. In the problem of political authority, michael huemer argues for anarchism, and so against the authority of statemade law and against the moral legitimacy.