Nature of Legitimate Authority

Beginning ideas on the nature of legitimate authority by John Calvin were based off of a sovereign God. He believed that all laws should be based on the equality of people and the state should try to have order and justice among themselves (Wren, 2004, p. xx). James I of England had ideas on authority that were beneficial to himself. He believed kings were above every law because they were gods. Followers were required to obey the law always, as opposed to Calvin’s idea that followers can disobey rulers if asked to disobey God. James I believed in the divine right of kings as authority, but he kindly believed that kings should always consider the best for their people (Wren, 2004, p. xxi).

As ideas of legitimate authority continued to change, the Levellers give us insight on the specifics of the ideas being presented. They noted that the government obtained their position by the people, meaning they had power over the people who chose them to rule over them. The legitimacy of rulers comes from the people. Thomas Hobbes continued these ideas by agreeing that men agreed to give up all their power to one man so that everyone's desires would become one desire. Therefore, authority came from the agreement of the people (Wren, 2004, p. xxi).

As time went on, John Locke wrote on his ideas of legitimate authority. He again agreed that leadership comes from the assent of the people. Men desire to have a civil society with liberty. They allow the government to govern them with moderation (Wren, 2004, p. xxi). David Hume brought upon a new light onto the subject by suggesting that God has nothing to do with legitimate authority. He also points out the circular reasoning of the Social Contract Theory and concludes that government is simply a need that society needs for its benefit (Wren, 2004, p. xxii).

As for followers, many ideas have been brought upon this world beginning with Niccolo Machiavelli. He believed people to be stable and reasonable, saying that a...