Michael Huemer, “The Problem of Authority: An Examination of the Right to Coerce and the Duty to Obey” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013)
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What is the basic premise of the episode and who are the participants?
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Welcome to the New Books and Philosophy channel of the New Books Network. My name is Robert Talese. I'm professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University. I co host the channel with Carrie Figdor. Carrie is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Iowa. Today my guest is Professor Michael Humer. We'll be talking about his new book, which is titled The Problem of Political Authority. An examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. The book is newly published by Paul Grave Macmillan. Michael Humer is professor of philosophy. at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Robert Nozick once claimed that the most basic question of political philosophy is why not anarchy? Political philosophers pose this question often when they intend to demonstrate that there is indeed a good philosophical reason why governments should exist.
Indeed, we often simply take for granted that That the state and its vast coercive apparatus is morally justified. Similarly, we tend to think that anarchy is both a practically untenable and morally undesirable mode of social association. But a few moments of reflection on the idea of authority suffices to see how curious an idea it is. To have authority. is to have a right to create moral obligations in others simply by issuing them commands. and a corresponding right to coerce others when they fail to comply with one's commands. It seems then a puzzling phenomenon. The government claims to be able to make it the case that you are morally required to do things simply by the fact that they've told you to do them.
And they claim the moral right to imprison you if you fail to do what they say. In the problem of political authority Humor explores this puzzling phenomenon. And defends the conclusion. That in fact there is no such thing as authority. The problem of authority is an exhilarating examination. Of a fundamental philosophical problem. So let's turn to the interview. Hello, Michael Humer.
Uh hi, Bob.
How are you doing today?
I'm doing pretty well. How are you?
I'm doing fine. Thank you so much for joining us on New Books in Philosophy today.
Oh, you're welcome.
Well great for everyone today, uh, on New Books in Philosophy. My guest is Michael Humer. Michael's new book is titled The Problem of Political Authority an examination of the right to coerce and the duty to obey. The book was published in twenty thirteen by Paul Grave Macmillan, and I highly recommend Michael's book. Um it takes a lively, rigorous and engaging look. At what many contemporary political philosophers think is perhaps the most fundamental political philosophical question of all. As Robert Nozick put it, why not anarchy? Uh and um Humer's answer is there's no good reason why not anarchy.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the basic premise of the episode and who are the participants?
0:00–11:49
2
How does Michael Huemer define political authority and why is it puzzling?
11:49–14:15
3
What is the ‘problem of authority’ that the book aims to solve?
14:15–17:04
4
Why does Huemer reject the traditional social‑contract justification for authority?
17:04–19:02
5
How does the hypothetical‑consent (accident‑victim) scenario illustrate the flaws in consent‑based arguments?
19:02–24:46
6
What does the Milgram obedience experiment reveal about our willingness to obey authority?
24:46–48:52
7
What anarchist alternatives does Huemer propose for policing, courts, and other government services?
48:52–1:06:01
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from New Books in Philosophy
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