Abstract

Yves Sintomer, Power and Authority in Arendt's Work Hannah Arendt conceived of power as the ability to act in concert, rather than as power over other human beings. This fundamental human capability has to be combined with authority, which allows the stability of political order through unquestioning recognition instead of persuasion. However, the relation between these two notions is a problematic one. Since tradition has lost its motivational force in the modern world, what can support the supremacy of authority overpower, if both theology and natural law are rejected ? The notions of foundation or constitution are probably not sufficient to provide an acceptable basis for the idea of a republican political authority which transcends the power of the people.

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