Authority is an Illusion

ALL “authority” is an Illusion.

So what does that mean? What IS authority?

In reality, there can be no “authority” above the individual, because authority REQUIRES a violation of consent.

If there is NO violation of consent, then that is not AUTHORITY, but rather a voluntary interaction in which neither party is controlling the other.

All individuals have autonomy, and that autonomy is widely recognized by the vast majority of people. We often call these rights.

So let’s take a step back and look at some things I can do as an individual, that are largely uncontroversial.

I can choose what I want to eat.

I can choose which car I want to buy.

I can choose how I want to earn money.

I can choose who I want to speak to, and what I want to say.

I can choose to defend myself if someone attacks me.

Naturally, OTHER people are similarly able to make those choices for themselves. Right?

Not a lot to disagree with there, I hope. If there is, please feel free to leave a comment and tell me why you disagree!

Now let’s look at those same items, and see if they can be reversed.

Can I choose what YOU are allowed to eat?

Can I choose what car YOU are allowed to buy?

Can I choose how YOU are allowed to earn money?

Can I choose who YOU are allowed to speak to, and what you’re allowed to say?

Can I choose to STOP you from defending yourself if you’re attacked?

I would expect that most of you, instinctually, would reject those ideas. Why should anyone else tell me what I can eat or what I can say?

This is the essence of autonomy, and why all authority is an illusion.

Looking back at the definitions we started with, what words do we see in the definitions? “Power, direct, control, command, determine.”

So what does “authority” really mean? If someone that is an “authority” tells you to do something, and you refuse, what happens?

Will you be ridiculed? Will you be punished? Will you be hurt? Will you be killed?

Ultimately, there IS no such thing as authority. There are only those who are willing to use violence or coercion to get others to do what they want, and those who are not.

Systems of authority are only LARGER groups of people who are willing to use violence to protect each other from anyone that dares not comply. You might recognize these as gangs, or mobs, or governments.

So WHY do so many people recognize forms of authority, accept them, and even assert PASSIONATELY that they are absolutely NECESSARY?

You will already be familiar with the most common arguments in FAVOR of authority:

“Without authorities, people could do whatever they wanted. They could steal, hurt people, kill, and nobody would be able to stop them. We NEED authorities to have a CIVILIZED SOCIETY.”

The PROBLEM with trying to delegate that responsibility to a 3rd party, as an “authority”, is that it is at best redundant, and at worst outright WRONG.

Going back to our earlier examples, if I can’t tell YOU what you are allowed to eat, how can I select SOMEONE ELSE to tell you what you are allowed to eat? Even if a lot of my friends agree with me and we have a vote, do we magically now get to make your choices for you without your consent?

Of course not.

And THAT is where the illusion comes in.

Every time you obey an authority, or comply with a command from someone else, you are making a CHOICE.

It might be a LOGICAL choice, where you would rather pay for a sticker that allows you to drive your car around, rather than have men with guns chase you down and steal MORE money from you if you don’t.

But there is no authority there. There is only an INDIVIDUAL, who is CHOOSING to use violence to make you do what THEY want. Bolstered by the confidence that if you don’t obey, all of their friends will come and help use violence against you until you either comply, or are robbed, captured, or killed for your defiance.

So what is the solution then? Everybody just does what they want with no consequences?

Of course not. As we discussed above, individuals are free to make their own choices, including defending themselves from those that would try to use force or coercion against them.

The only thing an “authority” does, is create situations in which a protected group of individuals is “allowed” to do things that nearly everyone on an individual basis would agree are wrong.

For instance, let’s say you’re driving down the road in your car, and you drive past me going faster than I think you should. I think you’re being unsafe! So I chase you down and force you off the road, and with a gun on my hip, demand that you pay me money for driving faster than I like?

Is there any universe where that would be acceptable behavior from me?

What if all of my friends agree that you were driving too fast? Does that make it more acceptable?

At the end of the day, there is NO SUCH THING as authority. There are only those who are willing to use force to gain compliance, and those who realize that there is a BETTER way to ensure that everyone gets their needs met.

Non-aggression, and nonviolent communication.

If you want to learn more about the NAP and NVC, please have a look around at my other content!

If you disagree with anything I said here, I invite you to let me know in the comments, as I love to hear differing perspectives and have productive conversations!

Thank you and have a wonderful day!