most of his plays. Most of the family dilemmas he presents are directly correlated to disputes over power, whether it deals with sibling rivalry, parent rivalry, or some type of oedipal pairing. One of his compelling ideas surrounds the issue of legitimacy and illegitimacy when it comes to children and their parents. This dilemma continues to present itself in modern media, presenting a clear thematic imprint that describes a power dispute between the behaviors of legitimate and illegitimate sons
political legitimacy, as they did not receive their power through democratic means. It can be argued that political legitimacy is a means of justifying authority. What is political legitimacy? At this point, it would be useful to distinguish between political legitimacy and political authority. Buchanan stated that an authority has political legitimacy when “morally justified in wielding political power,” whilst political authority exists only where “in addition to possessing political legitimacy it has
Legitimacy and the Foundations of Legitimate Government In this paper, it is my intention to discuss the issue of legitimacy as it relates to government. I will explore what a legitimate government necessarily consists of; that is, I will attempt to formulate a number of conditions a government must meet in order to be considered legitimate. A logical starting point in an investigation of legitimate government would seem to be an account of the original purpose of government. Problems arise, though
Locke and the Legitimacy of the State: Right vs. Good John Locke’s conception of the “legitimate state” is surrounded by much controversy and debate over whether he emphasizes the right over the good or the good over the right. In the midst of such a profound and intriguing question, Locke’s Letter Concerning Toleration, provides strong evidence that it is ineffective to have a legitimate state “prioritize” the right over the good. Locke’s view of the pre-political state begins with his
authority. (1) The purpose of this paper is to rescue hypothetical consent from this objection. I begin by distinguishing political legitimacy from political obligation. (2) I argue that while hypothetical consent may not serve as an adequate ground for political obligation, it is capable of grounding political legitimacy. I understand a theory of political legitimacy to give an account of the justice of political arrangements. (3) I understand a theory of political obligation to give an account
American Hegemony in the Twenty-First Century: Consensus and Legitimacy Abstract: Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been the world’s only unquestioned superpower. How the United States evaluates its position as global hegemon has important consequences for American foreign policy, particularly with regards to the potential for future policy constraints. Thus, this paper seeks to consider the question: How durable is American hegemony? The paper first defines the state
individually acquiring the competence to judge the legitimacy of encountered propositional claims. Finally, Fichte confronts us with the idea of the identity of self-consciousness and objectivity. (1) Transcending ordinary life and experience to a somewhat higher being is surely not the scope of transcendental philosophy. What the revolutionary achievements of Descartes, Kant, and Fichte have generically in common is to account for the legitimacy of our knowledge claims or, in other words, for the
opportunity for radical innovation, and increased probability for lower prices. We will argue this claim with evidence acquired via the Internet and various periodicals. Though there may be substantial amount information that may defend Microsoft’s legitimacy, the claims against Microsoft and those who are being negatively affected stand to outweigh the positive attributes considerably. The key issue is what should the government do about the monopolizing strategies of Microsoft. The entities that
Residing in a country where one is born as an illegitimate child and is rebuked upon their presence nearly everyday can be mentally and emotionally heartbreaking, specifically when the individual is a child growing up with no initial love or care. , Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns is a powerful novel stressing the follies of eastern society and worldwide ignorance. He delves into the archaic ways in which women’s rights are dealt with through the eyes of the women themselves, providing
“Swaddling Clothes” The Evolutions of Toshiko By Caramel Velez By nature, all people are self-centered at one time or another. I find myself constantly being wrapped up in the day-to-day tasks becoming oblivious to the world around me. This action can continues for days or weeks until something drastic happens to break me out of it. A news story about Syria or a frantic phone call from a family member and my solitary existence does not matter. All of a sudden, my eyes are open wondering
Habermas’ Between Facts and Norms: Legitimizing Power? ABSTRACT: To overcome the gap between norms and facts, Habermas appeals to the medium of law which gives legitimacy to the political order and provides it with its binding force. Legitimate law-making itself is generated through a procedure of public opinion and will-formation that produces communicative power. Communicative power, in turn, influences the process of social institutionalization. I will argue that the revised notion of power
the weaker members of society in any welfare state. Taxation is justified through constitutional law and social convention, and so any rejection of taxation’s legitimacy is a direct condemnation of the legitimacy of the law, the legitimacy of the State, and the appropriateness of this social convention. Any claim that denies the legitimacy of such responsibilities and powers is a claim in favour of anarchy. Thus, the claim taxation is theft has the inferential meaning that government is illegitimate
measure of guilt or innocence is only as valid as the court structure to which it is subject to. Therefore, in considering whether Socrates is 'guilty or not', we must keep in mind the societal norms and standards of Athens at the time, and the legitimacy of his accusers and the validity of the crimes that he allegedly committed. Having said this, we must first look at the affidavit of the trial, what exactly Socrates was being accused with: "Socrates does injustice and is meddlesome, by investigating
common knowledge being that it is among the most basic rights given to the citizenry of the public. However, the simple manner in which this amendment is phrased creates a "gray area", and subject to interpretation under different circumstances. The legitimacy of the right to mount a legal defense is further obscured by the Fourteenth Amendment which states, "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." As a result, many questions
The next character I will mention is Honorable Gilbert MacWhite, who replaced Ambassador Sears in Sarkhan. This character functioned in complete contrast to Sears. He understood the sensitivity of the US mission in Sarkhan and how vulnerable the Sarkhanese government was to potential communist influences. He also understood the communist threat and did not underestimate it. MacWhite’s understanding of the operational environment was clear from the beginning and made constant efforts in understanding
Second Amendment has often been the subject of debate, and over the years varying speculations and interpretations of its intended meaning have forced this significant phrase into a controversial spotlight. Many Americans question the importance and legitimacy of the Second Amendment, claiming that it is outdated and invalid. An increasing number of people feel that the Second Amendment should be fully eradicated from the Constitution, and new restrictions outlining firearm ownership should be implemented
ever the right or wrong thing to do? Political Realists claim that war is just and permissible only when it is in the best interest of a state. Further, they argue morality has no place in determining the justifiability of war. In considering the legitimacy of war, I will first analyze one main argument in support of 'Political Realism', after which I will critique the argument, which I provided in support of political realism. Political Realists clearly state that war is acceptable once it is in
individual consent is the longstanding, traditional theory of the authority of God. Other arguments follow a less anarchist view and are that of tacit consent and more specifically that of majority consent. The idea that consent is essential for the legitimacy of political authority can be argued against in many ways. Traditionally, the argument that God gave government authority was valid and in accepting religion we accept this as well. If you rebel against this order, you rebel against God. It was
punishment. At the same time, I do not believe that retributivism justifies the death penalty either. In Martin Perlmutter's essay "Desert and Capital Punishment," he attempts to illustrate that social utility is a poor method of evaluating the legitimacy of it. Perlmutter claims that a punishment must be "backward looking," meaning that it is based on a past wrongdoing. A utilitarian justification of capital punishment strays from the definition of the term "punishment" because it is "forward looking
I grow; I prosper: Now, gods, stand up for bastards! (Act 1. Scene 2. Lines1-23) the other world view presented in this play contains no notion of equality. Animal behavior is seen as unnatural whereas the medieval values of legitimacy, a stratified social order, obedience, and so on, are natural. Also during the story, Lear is compared to an animal which shows his current state of sanity. At the very beginning a dragon is referenced, explaining his power and position as king