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Can it be defined by power, knowledge, wealth, the supernatural or something else? Does one give it to themselves...or is it given to them by another?


Discuss

My definition of Authority is Cartman as Cop.

Authority is a person/group/belief that claims to be over others thoughts actions for control. Authority says IT knows better then the others for what ever that reason might be....It needs followers, or inforces it.

Originally posted by debbiejo
Authority is a person/group/belief that claims to be over others thoughts actions for control. Authority says IT knows better then the others for what ever that reason might be....It needs followers, or inforces it.

One can make as many claims about their authority as they want, but if they don't have any power or evidence to enforce/back up their claims..then do they really have control over anyone?

For me power defines authority, and Nietzsche would agree with that. If you have more power, then you can force others to do what you want, if they donīt do, they are arrested, or punished somehow. If you had more power than the state, would you need to follow its laws ? Or you would make your own laws ? History show us that authority depends on power, the king did not follow the pope because it was the right thing to do, or it was the will of God... it was because the pope had more power than the king. Do you think criminals will still be criminals if they had too much power ? No, they will be the law, and you will be the criminal. Christians were like criminals in Rome before they acquired power. Not that christians are criminals, but criminal is a relative concept.

People are so much hypocrite when they state their opinions about right, and wrong... they believe something is right with no doubt, but that same thing is only justified because not agreeing with that would mean punishment for you... it is the law of the jungle, for example, people are quick to condem piracy, but relatively to many other legally accepted injustices of capitalism, it is a minor problem. People like to associate right, and wrong to the laws of the society, and if you ask them many will deny, but when something happen, everyone quickly judges you for your actions, but when someone kills in mass(for example), and have the "authority" to do that he will never be judged since it is legal. I personally thought of Iraq, when I said kills in mass... if I was powerful enough to start a personnal attack on Iraq killing everyone on Iraq including inocents, which is a consequence of any war. I would probably be arrested, and considered a terrorist, or criminal. But if I am the president, and officially declare war, nope... I will not be arrested for killing people.

Thats is authority... you want to do something, and you do it... if you donīt have authority you suffer the consequences of your actions, if you have you donīt suffer the consequences, and if you have authority you have the power to justify our own actions using some ramdom justification, just pick one : Godīs will, divine right, laws, majority of opinion, etc. Iīnot saying that those justifications are wrong, but they are not more right than my own opinions.

IMPORTANT : Its is like God, metaphysics... those things that "do not have pratical application", if you have authority, you can force people to follow a ramdom metaphysical concept of your choice, or else they are punished. Believe me... you will not feel so free to talk about God being irreal, or about bibleīs contradictions in the time were it was against law, it would be like commiting a crime.

Its interesting to think what could happen in this capitalist world where corporations have more, and more power every time. One day, they will be powerful enough so they donīt need to follow the state laws, and create their own, like in some type of feudalism, and that already happens at some level.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
Its interesting to think what could happen in this capitalist world where corporations have more, and more power every time. One day, they will be powerful enough so they donīt need to follow the state laws, and create their own, like in some type of feudalism, and that already happens at some level.


perhaps thats the evolution for govt...............

Originally posted by Atlantis001
For me power defines authority, and Nietzsche would agree with that. If you have more power, then you can force others to do what you want, if they donīt do, they are arrested, or punished somehow. If you had more power than the state, would you need to follow its laws ? Or you would make your own laws ? History show us that authority depends on power, the king did not follow the pope because it was the right thing to do, or it was the will of God... it was because the pope had more power than the king.



To a point I agree with you. However, I think you are making a bit of an assumption about how power is defined.

I don't believe that power equates to the amount of control one has over others. Rather..I think the concept of "power" is more accurately defined by the control one has over themselves.

If something exists that can control an individual on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level..then the authority that they have is indeed very limited, and is only relative to those who choose to subject themselves to it.

Here we go relative again..

Originally posted by whobdamandog
To a point I agree with you. However, I think you are making a bit of an assumption about how power is defined.

I don't believe that power equates to the amount of control one has over others. Rather..I think the concept of "power" is more accurately defined by the control one has over themselves.

If something exists that can control an individual on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level..then the authority that they have is indeed very limited, and is only relative to those who choose to subject themselves to it.

No, I agree. People usually want power over the others, thats why political leaders are usually considered powerful people, but personally I donīt think it is true power. This power is obtained by imposing your will over the others to force others to do something, pretty like animals do when they dispute a single piece of meat. True power, the only one that worth something is acquired through knowing, and understanding things, not by being capable of forcing them over the others.

Originally posted by Atlantis001
No, I agree. People usually want power over the others, thats why political leaders are usually considered powerful people, but personally I donīt think it is true power. This power is obtained by imposing your will over the others to force others to do something, pretty like animals do when they dispute a single piece of meat. True power, the only one that worth something is acquired through knowing, and understanding things, not by being capable of forcing them over the others.

In part..yes..authority is made up of knowledge/understanding/and spirituality, but you can't completely seperate it from the "physical."'

Without having complete control over all aspects that make up one's self..then you really have no true authority.

Hmm. To me Authority is a type of power over something could be anything.

Like say a cop. I respect his/her Authority. His power. His position. But I would treat this person who has this Authority, the individual, with the same respect he is giving me. I believe as humans we should treat eachother with mutual/ equal respect.

Never fear the individual but his authority. Don't be scared. Respect his Authority. Treat the individual as good as you want to be treated. Thats power.

Sure the individual comes with the Authority but only the intelligent know how and when to distinguish Authority from the individual.

Like say if your out eating with a C.E.O of a Fortune 500 company one weekend evening. It would be a mistake to treat him as an Authority during dinner. Cause thats not what he is at that point. What he is, is just a person talking about the NY Yankees with you with over a beer and a steak. He's a person you are being mutually respectful with. You guys should equally and effortlessly respect each other, Why? Because he's not presenting himself as a CEO, but as a regular person. So treat him like one. Now when his Authority comes into play, then you will still recognize him as that person you went to dinner with but you should now respect the Authority he holds.

Authority is something people put themselves under which doesn't have to be, unless laws require one to be. Laws based on "What Shoulds" not necessarily what is good for you.

I always thought of true authority as having the wisdom to enlighten people to do what you wish out of choice. Without power as a necessity and not forceful.

Authority is the power to make others do what one wants. the more people being controlled/influenced and the more capable the person is of controlling/influencing the person/s the more authority the person has.

Originally posted by whobdamandog
Can it be defined by power, knowledge, wealth, the supernatural or something else? Does one give it to themselves...or is it given to them by another?


Discuss

Well all authority comes from God (if your religious)

However my definition of Authority would be is someone were to adhere to another due to respect of that one person. Fear plays a role, but mostly of respect. But here's to get technical.


1.)
a. The power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge.
b. One that is invested with this power, especially a government or body of government officials: land titles issued by the civil authority.

2).Power assigned to another; authorization: Deputies were given authority to make arrests.

3).A public agency or corporation with administrative powers in a specified field: a city transit authority.

4).
a. An accepted source of expert information or advice: a noted authority on birds; a reference book often cited as an authority.
b. A quotation or citation from such a source: biblical authorities for a moral argument.

5).Justification; grounds: On what authority do you make such a claim?
A conclusive statement or decision that may be taken as a guide or precedent.

6).Power to influence or persuade resulting from knowledge or experience: political observers who acquire authority with age.

7).Confidence derived from experience or practice; firm self-assurance: played the sonata with authority




I'd like to point out that the definition always seems to state that the authority is given by a higher command. Considering that (all things have beginnings) that the chain of command would end with a "be all end all" supreme being with ALL the authority...

We must give authority to those we'd trust. If that trust is violated then we must elect others to take their place. Impartiality does help too.

To me, authority is the idea of having the "power" to change ways of living and such by altering what is and isn't "Ok" or "legal" etc.

As WD and I'm sure many others have said, impartiality is key. You must be able to stop what's wrong or harmful, change what's impractical or non-functional, create a working machine for lack of a better term. Or if not create, maintain fairly without exception in the idea of what it's creator wants. Where as some people get carried away with power.

-AC

authority is a controlling/commanding/instructing/teaching/leading/whatever power that i think is gained through simple recognition from others. being that if a party does not recieve credibility it has no authority.

Authority is power given to you by someone who has power.

Honestly .......http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/5885/av13tw.gif

............"can"............

Authority is one that rules over others.

Originally posted by whobdamandog
Can it be defined by power, knowledge, wealth, the supernatural or something else? Does one give it to themselves...or is it given to them by another?


Discuss

Authority is nothing but a stupid man made thing.

Authority is whomever you give respect to or authority is those who are more powerful than you are.

As something that is pure has purity, or a person who is sincere has sincerity, someone who is an author has authority.

pinch

An author of what? The book of power, peom of life, article of purpose...

Originally posted by AOR
An author of what? The book of power, peom of life, article of purpose...

Just playing with words.
bag

Authority is the control you give other people over yourself. people do that, because of moral, to have a better live. thats the way civilization works. so its right that authority is defined as power. the power to judge people for crimes they do, to starts war and to kill people.

Originally posted by Mindship
Just playing with words.
bag

I know, but it was a pretty good comparison. As a religious, I believe in an author of life...

You don't need authority if everyone lived by the "Golden Rule.".......Unfortunately people don't.....Even people you thought would don't.

But even the golden rule recuires order. And order recuires authority, and authority is respect for the person in charge. That respect is meet equally with the people in mind, to whom the authorative figure is working for...

Originally posted by debbiejo
You don't need authority if everyone lived by the "Golden Rule.".......Unfortunately people don't.....Even people you thought would don't.


Realistically, there is no thing as ''rules'' only in the minds of human beings

The word "woman" could be. No offense. Both genders behave equally to survive and sometimes they imitate each other. I just borrow, I never become others.

dark99 could you let me have your sig? I cannot take it to my folders. This is serious, I want it. How can you help me? I mean to take it for collection not to change my sig. Please.

Originally posted by Bardock42
My definition of Authority is Cartman as Cop.

damn you beat me to it

The Alpha & Omega....other than that just me...my simple definitions...unless wifey says she is my authority I will humor her for peace sake...LMAO!

I have as much authority as the Pope does, I just can't get people to believe me...

authority=a superior....Be it a deity, boss, or a high-ranking officer.

Originally posted by Jack Daniels
The Alpha & Omega....other than that just me...my simple definitions...unless wifey says she is my authority I will humor her for peace sake...LMAO!

Lol

Some have argued that authority is very different from mere power, because authority is something which must be accepted voluntarily whereas power can exist without consent.

Originally posted by whobdamandog
Can it be defined by power, knowledge, wealth, the supernatural or something else? Does one give it to themselves...or is it given to them by another?


Discuss

The guy with the bigger gun has authority. Thats what history teaches us

Originally posted by Storm
Some have argued that authority is very different from mere power, because authority is something which must be accepted voluntarily whereas power can exist without consent.

Agreed. I think power is more authentic, authority must be sustained by power it donīt have power by itself.

There is no easy definition. The concepts of authority, power, and legitimacy are entwined. A person holds authority when they have both power and legitimacy.

Authority is sublte mix of limited control and power that appears to be much greater than it really is because of the wielder's personality.

Authority - The people who use our tax money to beat us up, imprison us, or kill us depending on how far we step out of line. Authority.

Authority, is someone like an officer of the law that enforces the law and who is fair or your parents.