Philosophy
Legitimacy of State Authority
Quick fact
The word 'legitimacy' comes from the Latin 'legitimare', meaning 'to declare lawful', but philosophical debate extends far beyond legality to moral acceptance.
Why this is interesting
You obey many laws every day—stopping at red lights, paying taxes—but have you ever wondered why you feel morally obligated to do so? What separates a government's authority from a gunman's command?