Abstract

The Ethics of Power

The article presents information on the book "The Ethical Basis of Political Authority," by W.W. Willoughby. In this book Willoughby discusses with learning and clarity preceding political thought and expounds, his own theory of principles of political obligation. He demonstrates very effectively the weakness of the doctrine of natural and indefeasible rights and establishes the right of the constituted political authority to exercise such force as may be required in the light of its own conscientious judgment of needs of the public weal. He is not quite equally enlightening about the nature of the duty of the individual to obey this authority. The distinction between the private conscience and the rational conscience is not discussed in the book. Nor is it clear whether Willoughby limits the use of force to the national sovereign state, as that state is popularly understood today.