Political & Social Philosophy · The legitimacy of political authority

Anarchism

A command does not acquire a moral claim to obedience merely by coming from the state.

What it claims

The philosophical anarchism considered here questions political authority rather than endorsing disorder. Wolff argues that moral autonomy—the responsibility to judge and act for oneself—conflicts with an obligation to obey a command simply because it is authoritative. Simmons examines proposed grounds of political obligation, including consent, tacit consent, fair play, gratitude, and natural duty, and questions whether they bind most actual citizens.

Nearby positions

Goes together with
Libertarianism

Key thinkers

Robert Paul Wolff · A. John Simmons · Pierre-Joseph Proudhon · Peter Kropotkin · Michael Huemer