authority

Question 1

Raz’s conception of authority

Answer 1

the law is a legitimate authority and you should follow it when faced with a gap
- believes that you are more likely to be better off following the law and the law has already considered your dependent reasons for doing x
- an authority is legitimate only if there are sufficient reasons to accept it- these sufficient reasons may include the fact that the law is more reliable over a long period of time and takes into account our initial reasons for doing x
- authority are the people who, if you listen to them, you’ll do morally better than if you trust your own judgment.

Question 2

hurds conception of authority

Answer 2

the law only generates theoretical authority and simply gives you other reasons to be weighed against your first order (dependent) reasons

Question 3

Alexander and sherwin conception of authority

Answer 3

comes from the subjects own acceptance of authority, their endorsement of the rule gives it severity