Download pdf loving to survive free online new books. Michael huemer libertarian political philosopher the problem of political authority. The argument for political anarchy and antistatism is made by michael huemer in his book the problem of political authority. Jul 16, 2012 to avoid this problem, a theory of political authority must argue directly for the existence of the appropriate kind of moral power on the part of the state. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey book. In 2012, the libertarian bookshelf was expanded by a number of notable academic works. An examination of michael huemers book on the right to coerce and the duty to obey.
Buy the problem of political authority by michael huemer with. But this happy state of affairs could not be expected to come about all at once. Michael huemer, the problem of political authority robert nozick, anarchy, state, and utopia murray rothbard, for a new liberty other readings on electronic reserve er recommended reading. Lukes explains that, central to the idea of power is the notion of bringing about consequences, not unlike, for instance, the way in which your sociology teacher ensures that people. Michael huemer is the author of the problem of political authority 4. There are three main features of political disagreements i want to. 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. The problem of political authority by michael huemer econlib. Michael huemers challenge to the legitimacy of government.
The problem of political disagreement perhaps the most striking feature of the subject of politics is how prone it is to disagreementonly religion and morality rival politics as a source of disagreement. Review of michael huemers the problem of political authority. I thought this was hard to believe, but after i read huemer s book i must say. 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. Aug 28, 2016 michael huemer on political authority by j. See michael huemer, the problem of political authority.
I have little doubt the book will be a cornerstone of libertarian philosophy. Michael huemer on political authority justice and hedonism. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the problem of political authority. A lack of political authority means that we are not obligated to obey the law merely because it is the law we have other moral reasons not to murder or steal, though, and that agents of the state are not morally entitled to coerce citizens in ways that private citizens are morally prohibited from doing. Huemer scrupulously reasons from widely shared moral premises to surprising conclusions. 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. The morally correct policy is the one that maximizes happiness. I looked at this question briefly in the problem of political authority. Michael huemer joins us this week for a discussion on political authority, political obligation, and political legitimacy. This article argues for the valuebased conception of a moral power, which states, very roughly, that one person holds a power over another if there is sufficient value in the former. Huemer shows that it is very difficult to justify political authority, especially in the form we have now in most western countries. 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. On the other side, one of the main arguments for the legitimacy of the state is some form of the social contract theory developed by thomas hobbes in his 1668 book, leviathan, or by jeanjacques rousseau in his. Power, authority and the state 7 also an important concept in political sociology.
Or maybe you just look at the lowincome manual laborers, and think they deserve more. Michael huemer, the problem of political authority. Huemer has produced not just a brilliant work of political philosophy, but a gripping pageturner. The consequentialist explanation of political authority contends that great social. What makes it philosophically interesting is that it tries to do so by combining a philosophical critique of political authority with what huemer believes are common sense intuitions about morally permissible actions. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey palgrave macmillan 20, michael huemer explores this puzzling phenomenon, and defends the. The meaning of power and authority has been summarised by steven lukes 1978. Political authority grants members of a government the right to rule over citizens using coercion if necessary i. 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. Ive read almost every major work of libertarian political philosophy ever published.
Michael huemer is a professor of philosophy at the university of colorado, boulder. The theory holds that, at least in some countries, there is a contractual relationship between the government and its citizens. Get free shipping on the problem of political authority by michael huemer, from. An examination of michael huemer s book on the right to coerce and the duty to obey. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey michael huemer 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 has authored such books as the problem with political authority. Whats missing in the problem of political authority cato. The problem of political authority examining the right to. 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. The problem of political authority is the most convincing case for anarchocapitalism im aware of. The author discusses the problem of political authority in a common sens setting and how and why anarchocapitalism might be a better alternative.
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 book michael huemer, ethical intuitionism book prof. Bryan caplan praises michael huemer s work on the problem of political authority because it avoids the extremes of both rightsbased and consequentialist reasoning. The problem of political authority by michael huemer the. The problem of political authority is his best book yet. An orderly and livable society thus does not require acquiescence in the illusion of political authority. 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. In my view, michael huemer s new the problem of political authority. Each has notoriously foundered on difficult problems in the past, as is wellknown to students of political. Michael huemer calls the problem of political authority and, in his view, such authority does not exist. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey is the best book in the genre. This book argues that this notion is a moral illusion. Language english format pdf pages 365 isbn 97817281661 file size 3.
The first part of the book argues in detail for philosophical anarchism and refutes the legitimacy of political authority, while the second addresses. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey transcript brennan. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey kindle edition by huemer, michael. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link.
Professor huemer, aaron, and trevor tackle problems of political obligation, political legitimacy, and political authority, and explain the differences between each of these terms. Political authority and political obligation by stephen r. George klosko link personally, im much more partial to a more antiliberal view of the common good than anarchism, but then im more skeptical about corporate power being much better than the state. Dec 11, 2012 the problem of political authority is his best book yet. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey palgrave macmillan 20, michael huemer. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey by michael huemer new york. Still, huemer makes some novel and interesting contributions of his own. Mar 05, 2017 in the problem of political authority. 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. If a subject does not obey an order government has the.
Its also nice that hes exceedingly charitable when dealing with opposing arguments. 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 a professor of philosophy at the university of colorado. He views these as fundamental characteristics of what he calls political authority. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey ebook written by michael huemer. Michael huemer the problem of political authority an. Michael huemer on libertarianism, voluntaryism, and anarchocapitalism. The profile quoted huemer as saying that political authority is a moral illusion were suffering from. In part 1, huemer almost completely demolishes all ethical arguments for government. 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. Mar 20, 20 bryan caplan praises michael huemers work on the problem of political authority because it avoids the extremes of both rightsbased and consequentialist reasoning. The problem of political authority michael huemer bok. So early on, i noted kind of a puzzle about government versus regular people. Sometimes power and authority go together, but sometimes people.
An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obeypalgrave macmillan 20, michael huemer explores this puzzling phenomenon, and defends the conclusion that in fact there is no such thing as political authority. After reading this section, an openminded reader should believe that there is only 1 kindof good argument against anarchism and all other counterarguments are fallacious. The problem of political authority the problem of political authority, says huemer sec. If, like me, you think anarchocapitalism sounds ridiculous, this is the book for you. The problem of political authority by huemer, michael ebook. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey michael huemer on.
Jan 17, 20 ive read almost every major work of libertarian political philosophy ever published. He is the author of more than seventy academic articles in epistemology, ethics, metaethics, metaphysics, and political philosophy, as well as six amazing books that you should immediately buy. Considering nearly everyone allows some role for government, huemer has set himself a tall task. The problem here is that no all politics is about authoritative distribution of values. The problem of political authority cambridge university press. For political scientists, authority indicates being the legitimate decisionmaker, and we distinguish power as being the effective decisionmaker. 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. Jan 29, 20 what huemer means by the problem of political authority is suggested by the books subtitle. Amazing how he starts from such commonly held assumptions and reaches radical conclusions. If it is wrong to punish people for engaging in a certain behavior, then it is wrong to punish them for doing things that might lead to this behavior. Jun 26, 2015 michael huemers 20 book the problem of political authority sets out to prove a radical conjecture. In my view, michael huemers new the problem of political authority. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey, respectfully disagrees with just about every sentiment expressed in the preceding paragraph.
Using moral premises you probably already accept, and clear but subtle arguments, huemer leads you stepbystep to a radical yet compelling conclusion. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Power, authority and the state sage publications inc. Review of michael huemers the problem of political.
The problem of political authority is a masterpiece of using clear, commonsense arguments to arrive at radical conclusions. Michael huemer, author of the problem of political authority. I have little doubt the book will be a cornerstone of libertarian philosophy for years to come. 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. In chapter 4 he carefully dissects recently prominent democratic justifications of authority. Michael huemer author of 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 of the use of force to compel obedience to this kind of law. Michael huemers book is an attack on the state, and on much of. Good refutations of michael huemers argument against. 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 an examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. 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 kindle. No one else is as clear, as accessible and as convincing as huemer is in 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 anarchocapitalism. The problem of political authority an examination of the. Each has notoriously foundered on difficult problems in the past, as is wellknown to students of political philosophy. A central question in political philosophy is to what extent is political authority legitimate. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. 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. 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. The state is often ascribed a special sort of authority, one that obliges citizens to.
As huemer acknowledges, many of these critical arguments are familiar from the work of john simmons, leslie green, and other. I recently read this book, and although it is generally interesting and wellwritten i have some criticisms to put forward. Huemer discusses the problems with political authority and the social contract i. I can illustrate huemers concept of political authority with an example. If youre tired of political books that merely preach to the choir, prepare to be amazed. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey michael huemer auth. He explains why the state lacks legitimate authority before suggesting reasons to think that it isnt necessary as a source of social order. 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.