Are authorities necessary for people and society? If so, what is the most important aspect of an
authority?
Authority has been a part of people’s lives for centuries, and various authorities have
developed since the beginning of human development. Many philosophers have expressed their
views on authority, whether religious organizations or formal authority as the government.
Authorities are necessary for society because they provide people with organized resources to
seek answer, and authorities create uniform rules and standards for people to follow, avoiding
chaos. The most critical aspect of authority is majoritarian democracy, in which the majority’s
needs are satisfied so that peace and order are preserved.
Authority is not limited to a government, the most common one. Authorities include
churches, schools, corporations, and many other institutions that specialize in particular fields,
and those institutions provide people with resources in their expertise. Authority is necessary for
people because it allows an organized structure where people can seek answers to different
questions and take advantage of the resources made available by authority. Experts typically
comprise authorities, and they make resources available for the general public through deliberate
organization. The most common example is educational authorities such as high schools and
colleges that give the general public access to the well-designed curriculum and education
resources that would not be broadly available without the educational authorities. As children
grow older, education becomes necessary, so they go to school where proper resources and space
are available for their needs. Authorities are essential because people would feel lost and
disoriented dealing with specific areas that they are not familiar with. They would naturally go to
authorities when they have inquiries because experts will offer them help and advice. Authorities
satisfy people’s needs in particular areas as people naturally develop them, and an organized
authority gives people access to resources they cannot easily obtain by themselves.
Another factor that makes authorities necessary for society is the set of uniform rules and
standards that are made possible by them. They are highly useful because when people follow
the common rules and standards, the order of society is maintained properly. Rules and standards
are almost visible in every single aspect of people’s lives. For example, the value of a currency is
regulated by banks and governments so that exchange is possible between different currencies.
Without this kind of uniformity, trading and traveling abroad would almost become impossible
since there are no common monetary exchange standards. Uniform rules and standards are
essential to society because stability and peace are achieved through them. If no traffic rules are
regulating the cars and pedestrians, accidents will most likely become an everyday sight.
Authorities organize large groups of individuals based on commonality, preserving peace and
order in society.
Then, authorities’ uniform rules and resources combine to give authorities the most
important effect: they prevent society’s chaos from happening. Authorities are highly effective at
preventing chaos. The absence of authorities will leave people disoriented because they have no
place or resources to seek answers. The lack of uniformity and rules will further add to the
confusion. As a result, people will develop their theories and ideas based on their unreliable
assumptions, and chaos will be a likely result. Suppose there is no CDC and government to
provide appropriate safety practices to protect people from COVID-19, people will come up with
incorrect and unsafe measures and cause greater harm to others and society, accelerating the
spread of disease and causing chaos. The authorities gather their resources and employ
uniformity to encourage safety practices and minimize the potential negative consequences.
Without the proper guidance from the authorities, biased opinions will very likely cause harm to
other individuals, and chaos is predictable. The authorities’ proper guidance and regulation will
keep society’s order and avoid chaos, maintaining a state of peace.
The most critical aspect of authority is majoritarian democracy, in that the will of the
majority is represented, maximizing people’s benefits. This kind of democracy ensures that the
demands of the larger population are satisfied, and their satisfaction will further contribute to the
peaceful state of the authority and society.
Majoritarian democracy allows individuals to voice their opinions. The authority collects
their opinions and makes use of their abundant resources and flexible standards to meet the needs
of the majority. An authority that employs majoritarian democracy is most successful because
the majority can assert their influence on the authority, and when their needs are met, they follow
the rules and standards, contributing to the overall order. The most common example is the
presidential election in the US, where citizens can influence the election result directly through
voting. When the majority of citizens’ demands are met, they will keep conforming to the rules
regulating society. Majoritarian democracy and peace work as a positive cycle inside of
authority: democracy leads to peace, and peace will further democracy.
Some might argue that majority rule is not enough since underrepresented groups will not
have their needs satisfied. Indeed, pure democracy in which every single individual’s demand is
met is not practical. Still, majoritarian democracy that satisfies most individuals’ needs is the
most effective at maintaining society’s peace and order by maximizing the benefits of the most
significant number of people. A society where most people are content is naturally more stable
and peaceful than a society where divided groups are constantly quarreling for their distinct
interests. An effective authority might have to make small sacrifices for the maximum peace and
well-being of itself and its individuals.
Authorities have been essential throughout history, and they will keep playing a big role
in people’s lives and society because of their abundant resources and uniform nature. Most
importantly, society will be stable and peaceful if majoritarian democracy is used effectively to
satisfy the majority’s demands.