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Conflict Of Autonomy And Authority

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In “The Conflict of Autonomy and Authority” Robert Paul Wolff argues that the state will always be in conflict with the autonomous man, and that the only political doctrine which grants man true autonomy, is anarchism. His argument is based on two main premises. First, he asserts that man has an obligation to achieve autonomy; be responsible for his actions, and make his own decisions. Second, he posits that government-imposed commands can never be more than mere suggestions for the autonomous man; they may be complied with voluntarily, but never perceived as legitimately binding. The state is viewed as illegitimate because it issues laws (commands), which it expects man to follow, which rob man of his autonomy. Therefore, Wolff posits that

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