Authoritative Power

I agree with Raz's assertion that legal authority is based upon the fact that it is socially recognized as a mediator among individual disputes. We depend upon the ability of the legal system to be a mediator. I think that the ability of legal authority to be a consistent mediator inspires trust in the system. In the absence of a consistent and authoritative means to mediate disputes,the outcome of individual disputes would be left to only the parties involved. This would lead to absolute chaos. Disputes would be resolved through force, and the stronger party would always win. The Milgrim Experiment's criticisms of Raz's view on conventional authority are legitimate. Authority by social recognition ensures conformity regardless of whether or not an individual deems it moral. The Milgrim experiment shows how this unquestioning obedience to authority can be troublesome. The power of authority can be and is abused all the time. Even though individuals in the experiment did not want to shock the subject, the authoritative pressure was sufficient to make them shock the individual. The coercive power of authority when in the wrong hands can be devastating. The Nuremberg trials are a good example of this. The defendants said that they were merely following orders and carried out their actions because authority had told them to do so. No matter how heinous the act, the Nazi's complied because of the chain of command. It seems that the coercive power of authority is both its greatest achievement and flaw.