Political Legitimacy and Ethical Theories of Happiness

The Origins and Legitimacy of Political Power

The study of history requires us to investigate the origins of political equality and determine when and why human communities first established a clear division between rulers and the ruled.

Evaluating Political Legitimacy

The question of legitimacy asks whether a historical phenomenon is positive or negative, and whether it is worth maintaining or improving. This inquiry forces us to consider whether political power should exist at all. We can categorize the origins of power into four types:

• Natural Origins: Legitimate foundations such as family, trade, or art.
• Abuse and Violence: Origins lacking legitimacy, such as historical slavery.
• Violent Origins with Conditional Legitimacy: Institutions that arose through force but may be considered legitimate under specific conditions, such as private property.
• Illegitimate Origins: Practices that are inherently unjust, such as bullfighting.

Eudaemonism and Aristotelianism

Eudaemonism, or Aristotelianism, posits that the end of all human action is happiness, or eudaimonia. This refers to the 'good life'—a substantial quality of existence rather than a mere characteristic. This Greek philosophical theory rejects the identification of happiness with pleasure, wealth, or honor, asserting instead that happiness resides primarily in knowledge.

Hedonism and Epicureanism

Hedonism and Epicureanism define the search for pleasure as the source of happiness and the meaning of existence. Pleasure lacks a universal definition; some argue it stems from satisfying instincts or community desires, while others believe it depends on individual value systems, where conscience and personal morality play a significant role.

Utilitarianism: Morality and Utility

Utilitarianism is a moral framework based on maximizing utility for society. It is summarized by the principle of achieving "the greatest welfare for the maximum number of people." As a theory, it functions in two ways:

• Theory of Welfare: Argues that it is good to maximize utility, defined as pleasure, preference-satisfaction, or objective values.
• Theory of Right: Asserts that the correct action is the one that produces the greatest utility based on its consequences.