Philosophical anarchism

power

the ability to compel compliance of a rule

two ways to exercise power

reward compliance or punish noncompliance

What is the best way to exercise power and why?

punishing noncompliance, because it is more cost effective and most laws are prohibitions

threat

attempt to remove the option of disobedience

political power

the attempt to achieve supremacy in making, applying, and enforcing the law

What are the three features of supremacy (political power)?

1. ultimate, no higher authority can override decisions

2. unrivaled, state does not share authority to rule over its citizens

3. exclusive, the state is the only actor with the right to punish with force

What are the differences between supremacy and absolute power?

Supremacy is the ideal of the the modern state, and absolute power is negative. Absolute power is limitless and unconstrained. Supreme power is constrained by rights, which are guided by moral principles.

What does political philosophy investigate?

the principles that limit the range of activities over which the state has authority

What are the two interpretations of the question “Can political power be justified?” Explain each briefly.

1. Is it justifiable at all? Should we be anarchists?

   1. If we have equal moral status and autonomy, how can a coercive and hierarchical state be justified?

2. What are the justifications that support the exercise of political power?

   1. Social contract theorists say it’s consent.

   2. Justice based theories point to the redistribution of resources

_______ equality is a derivative of moral equality. Give an example.

political. The equal weight of votes respects equal moral status.

How can the state be problematic for moral equality?

When the state exercises power, it may override, or outweigh, our own judgements. But, moral equality relies on equal weight of moral judgments.

According to Wolff, what is supreme authority, or soveriegnty?

To issue commands without being subject to another’s commands.

States are inherently ____ and _____.

coercive, hierarchical

coercion

applying threats to achieve compliance

How is the state hierarchical?

only political superiors apply threats

According to Wolff, states are necessarily _____.

hierarchical

Coercion is only exercised when there is a ________ of _____ between the coercer and the coerced.

disagreement, judgment

Why does Wolff think states may not be necessarily coercive?

Because there may be an ideal society in which everyone has the same values and beliefs, and the state makes laws that align with these. Even if the state applies threats, there is no coercion.

What is the central anarchist thesis? What is Wolff’s and Simmons’ thesis?

All existing states are illegitimate.

Wolff: All states, past, present, and future, are illegitimate.

Simmons: All past and present states are illegitimate, but a legitimate state is possible.

What is a priori anarchism?

A legitimate state is incoherent. A state that is coercive and hierarchical cannot be the same as a state that has the right to rule. Coercion violates our autonomy and hierarchy violates equal moral status. It is a direct contradiction. In addition, we don’t need to observe features of existing or historical states to know that states cannot be legitimate; it is clear in its definition.

What is a posteriori anarchism?