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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
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    Legitimate authority requires that its directives track m... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Democratic collective self-rule can ground legitimate political authority.

    Legitimate authority requires that its directives track morally correct reasons, not merely reflect the will of a majority.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Moral truth exists independently of opinion. Authority claiming legitimacy must align with objective moral facts, not democratic preferences.
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    • 2.Majorities have historically endorsed grave injustices (slavery, genocide). Majority will alone cannot confer legitimacy on immoral directives.
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    • 3.Citizens owe obedience only to authorities that respect their rational agency. Pure majoritarian rule treats minorities as means, not moral agents.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.No consensus exists on which moral reasons are 'correct.' Authority requiring moral tracking becomes unmoored without democratic procedural grounding.
      ?

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    • 2.Empowering elites to determine 'correct morality' invites abuse. Democratic accountability, despite flaws, prevents concentrated power over moral truth.
      ?

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    • 3.Majority agreement provides the only transparent, testable basis for legitimacy. 'Correct reasons' remain subjective and prone to authoritarian capture.
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    Democracy & Governance1 linked

    Related

    Citizens owe obedience only to authorities that respect their rational agency. P...Democratic collective self-rule can ground legitimate political authority.Empowering elites to determine 'correct morality' invites abuse. Democratic acco...Majorities have historically endorsed grave injustices (slavery, genocide). Majo...
    +3 moreShow less
    Majority agreement provides the only transparent, testable basis for legitimacy....Moral truth exists independently of opinion. Authority claiming legitimacy must ...No consensus exists on which moral reasons are 'correct.' Authority requiring mo...

    Details

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit