How Do Plato, Locke & Machiavelli Address The Concepts Of Power, Authority & Legitimacy

The political arena in modern times is often times fraught with dissension, treachery and agendas which are set in place only to forward individual means. These circumstances are not coincidental or without reason; in fact they are reminiscent of many conflicts across ages. Politics as a science has thus evolved through series of theories which attempt to formalise the process and circumstances which pervade the arena. We thus find there three key elements authority, legitimacy and power exist within the formalisation of theory.

The idea of authority is central to any political order. (Stirk and Weigall, 1995:39)Authority in essence can be defined as the right to issue on command and, because the command is rightfully issued, citizens are under an obligation to obey. (Stirk and Weigall, 1995:39). Central to this tenet of authority is the idea that authority must have justice. This keys the question, what is justice? Which according to Plato is no different to asking what form of the state is idealistic. (Stirk and Weigall, 1995:2). Platos conclusion suggested that the best form of the state is the moral reordering of the whole of society (Annas, 1881:13) This suggests that morally society is to return to the way things ought to be in order for man to be the best version of himself and thus for society to be idealistic and perfect governance thus is achieved. This view contrasts starkly with the view of Thomas Hobbes who felt that Platos view was somewhat utopic and that the key to escaping the state of nature (which he viewed as largely pessimistic) was to institute a political structure whereby one individual was elevated to a position of antonymous authority (Stirk and Weigall, 1995:11). This in Hobbes opinion was the only way we could ensure life would not be solitary, nasty, brutish and short. (Hobbes, 1996:89).

In examining the element of legitimacy it is crucial to note that no single universally acceptable definition exists. One might however attempt to

References: .Annas, J. An Introduction To Platos Republic. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1981. 2.Bonodeo, A. Corruption, Conflict And Power In The Works And Times Of Niccolo, Machiavelli. Los Angeles : University of California Press, 1973. 3.Hobbes, T. Leviathan, edited by Richard Tuck. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1996. 4.Lock, J. Two Treatises of government. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1967. 5.Morriss, P. Power : A philosophical analysis. Manchester : Manchester University Press, 1987. 6.Simmons, A.J., Moral Principles and Political Obligations, Princeton : Princeton University Press, 1979. 7.Stirk, P.M.R. and Weigall, D. An Introduction To Political Ideas. London : Pinter Publishers Limited, 1995.