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Definition:
The concept of authority is complex and difficult, but extremely important because it
cuts to the heart of all human social arrangements. Authority is most often defined in
terms of power, and specifically in terms of having the power to control things or
affect outcomes.
Some, however, argue that authority is very different from mere power because authority is something which must be accepted voluntarily whereas power can exist without consent. Max Weber distinguished three types of authority based upon the nature of their legitimacy, which is another key issue in the discussion of authority systems. The three types are: legal/rational, charismatic and traditional.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What are Political and Legal Philosophy
The Philosophy of Politics and the Philosophy of Law are often studied separately, but they are presented here jointly because they both come back to the same thing: the study of force. Politics is the study of political force in the general community, while jurisprudence is the study of how laws can and should be used to achieve political and social goals.What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
