Speaker: Michael Huemer

Professor Michael Huemer, from the University of Colorado, will speak about “The Illusion of Authority.”

Abstract: Why do 535 people in Washington have the right to issue commands to 300 million others, most of whom have never met them? And why should the 300 million obey those orders? Philosophical theories of “political authority” aim to answer this sort of question. This lecture will review some of the reasons for thinking that all such theories fail, and thus that in fact, no government has ever possessed legitimate authority. Also discussed will be the reasons for the widespread illusion of authority, and the practical implications for individuals and government employees of relinquishing that illusion.