According to its dictionary definition, authority is 'a kind of power that exerts influence over others,' which at first glance may appear to be a concept that opposes human autonomy or fundamental freedom. However, philosophically, authority refers to a voluntary and autonomous influence over others based on freedom that entirely excludes coercive oppression or constraint. In this sense, 'authority' is fundamentally distinct from 'power.' Unlike power, which has long been a major topic in philosophy, authority has not been a philosophically recognized concept for very long.
Power is closely related to humans' latent instinctual desires or cravings and inherently involves an externally imposed coerciveness, domination through force, and oppression. In contrast, authority is an active act in which the coercive nature of domination is excluded and internal autonomy is emphasized.Authority is also distinguished from externally conferred power, such as 'authorization,' which is given through institutions or laws. In that regard, authority does not necessarily manifest through the exercise of authorization, and just as authority can be granted without authorization, authorization can exist without authority. When someone uses authorization or power to coercively demand authority over others, this is referred to as 'authoritarianism' in a negative sense.
The Latin word for authority, 'auctoritas,' is derived from the root 'auctor' (originator) and the verb 'augere' (to increase or enlarge). Etymologically, authority means 'a power firmly guaranteed by the originator.' For this reason, authority today is often demonstrated academically by citing the originator. As seen in the expression 'argumentatio ex auctoritate' (argument from authority), when one expresses or asserts an opinion by accurately understanding and appropriately citing the intent of the originator, this lends authority to their words.
The philosopher who gave special significance to authority was Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900–2002), who laid the foundations of modern philosophical hermeneutics. Gadamer reduces authority to a fundamental issue of understanding and cognition from a hermeneutical perspective.
The Latin word for authority, 'auctoritas,' is derived from the root 'auctor' (originator) and the verb 'augere' (to increase or enlarge). Etymologically, authority means 'a power firmly guaranteed by the originator.' For this reason, authority today is often demonstrated academically by citing the originator. As seen in the expression 'argumentatio ex auctoritate' (argument from authority), when one expresses or asserts an opinion by accurately understanding and appropriately citing the intent of the originator, this lends authority to their words.
The philosopher who gave special significance to authority was Hans-Georg Gadamer (1900–2002), who laid the foundations of modern philosophical hermeneutics. Gadamer reduces authority to a fundamental issue of understanding and cognition from a hermeneutical perspective.
As seen in the expression 'argumentatio ex auctoritate', the reason why someone's words gain authority is that when a person expresses or asserts their opinion, they accurately grasp the original author's intention and appropriately cite it.
Gadamer (1900–2002), a philosopher who gave special significance to authority and laid the foundation for modern philosophical hermeneutics, reduced authority to a fundamental issue of understanding and cognition from a hermeneutic perspective. He essentially argued that the nature of authority lies in 'recognition' and 'cognition' based on human free reason—in other words, in a post-Enlightenment rationality that acknowledges and obeys the better 'judgment' and 'insight' of others by recognizing one's own limitations. Corresponding to this authority, the precondition of obligation, which we can no longer refuse to acknowledge, exists before individual cognition, and this is none other than the 'tradition' passed down historically. In other words, authority is built upon tradition, which forms the basis of all understanding and truth.
Gadamer (1900–2002), a philosopher who gave special significance to authority and laid the foundation for modern philosophical hermeneutics, reduced authority to a fundamental issue of understanding and cognition from a hermeneutic perspective. He essentially argued that the nature of authority lies in 'recognition' and 'cognition' based on human free reason—in other words, in a post-Enlightenment rationality that acknowledges and obeys the better 'judgment' and 'insight' of others by recognizing one's own limitations. Corresponding to this authority, the precondition of obligation, which we can no longer refuse to acknowledge, exists before individual cognition, and this is none other than the 'tradition' passed down historically. In other words, authority is built upon tradition, which forms the basis of all understanding and truth.
Gadamer's argument does not imply that tradition is absolute truth or that authority automatically exists; instead, it emphasizes that, since understanding is fundamentally grounded in the prejudices of tradition, we need to recognize our own limitations and leap toward a reason that trusts better insights within these constrained conditions.
Today, we witness phenomena across society where authority is undermined by unilaterally prioritizing power and entitlement while ignoring or destroying tradition. To restore healthy, compromised authority, it seems more necessary than ever to engage in personal reflection, introspection, and deeper philosophical contemplation.
Today, we witness phenomena across society where authority is undermined by unilaterally prioritizing power and entitlement while ignoring or destroying tradition. To restore healthy, compromised authority, it seems more necessary than ever to engage in personal reflection, introspection, and deeper philosophical contemplation.
