Weber defines authority to be three different types: tradition, charismatic, and rational legal authority. A traditional legitimacy comes from the sacredness of traditions. Usually, this type authority can be exemplified through religious leaders or even our parents. Charismatic authority is based on the devotion of followers to an exceptional sacredness of a leader. Basically, followers give that one individual his/her power. One famous example would be Charles Manson and followers. The final authority is the rational legal authority. This type of authority is based on the legitimacy of active rules, codes, and rights of an authority to enforce the law. An example of this type of authority would officers.
So looking at these three different types of authority, you have to wonder…what makes them so legitimate. If we look at our first one, the traditional authority, it seems like a no brainer why we make it legitimate. Taking examples like our pastors/reverends/religious leaders or even our parents, we don’t even question their authority. That respect factor is automatically there as if we were just programmed to convey it naturally to these special “chosen” people. If you take parents as an example, legitimacy should come naturally to them. They are your parents, people who are taking care of you essentially your whole life. They guide you and groom you to be the people that you are today. So naturally, we should give them respect because they deserve it! Without these people, regardless of what kind of parents they are, we wouldn’t be where we are today. In an ideal world, that is what should happen but it doesn’t. There are people that are parents that should never even be blessed with having a child. Terrible people who have done terrible things to their own children, yet because of being a parent they are given this “legitimate” authority. In these gray areas, it makes you wonder what it actually takes to be a parent with legitimate authority rather than it being naturally blessed.
Let’s look at the second authority then- the charismatic authority. This, I think is our own stupidity. Having charismatic authority is based on the fact that we allow someone to have that power, we give them that authority. Now, I am a Christian and I do believe in Jesus, so it is very contradictory for me to say that charismatic authority is not legitimate. Speaking from a sociological point of view, what is it that made Jesus possess so much authority over people? What is the difference between Jesus Christ and Charles Manson? Well, Jesus Christ was a sacrificed savior of all mankind (in my opinion that is) and Charles Manson…he was just a charming and psychotic yet smart murderer. Jesus used his authority to save our lives while psychopaths like Charles Manson destroyed it.
Finally, let’s looks at the rational-legal authority. This authority comes based on the rules and codes of authority that enforce the law. Again, this in my opinion is kind of like charismatic authority. Who made the rules that we follow so strictly? These were made by people who thought they knew what was better for us. We automatically and blindly follow the rules without questioning the enforcer because of the authority we give the law enforcer. It begs the question, who are you willing to give authority to?
So looking at these three different types of authority, you have to wonder…what makes them so legitimate. If we look at our first one, the traditional authority, it seems like a no brainer why we make it legitimate. Taking examples like our pastors/reverends/religious leaders or even our parents, we don’t even question their authority. That respect factor is automatically there as if we were just programmed to convey it naturally to these special “chosen” people. If you take parents as an example, legitimacy should come naturally to them. They are your parents, people who are taking care of you essentially your whole life. They guide you and groom you to be the people that you are today. So naturally, we should give them respect because they deserve it! Without these people, regardless of what kind of parents they are, we wouldn’t be where we are today. In an ideal world, that is what should happen but it doesn’t. There are people that are parents that should never even be blessed with having a child. Terrible people who have done terrible things to their own children, yet because of being a parent they are given this “legitimate” authority. In these gray areas, it makes you wonder what it actually takes to be a parent with legitimate authority rather than it being naturally blessed.
Let’s look at the second authority then- the charismatic authority. This, I think is our own stupidity. Having charismatic authority is based on the fact that we allow someone to have that power, we give them that authority. Now, I am a Christian and I do believe in Jesus, so it is very contradictory for me to say that charismatic authority is not legitimate. Speaking from a sociological point of view, what is it that made Jesus possess so much authority over people? What is the difference between Jesus Christ and Charles Manson? Well, Jesus Christ was a sacrificed savior of all mankind (in my opinion that is) and Charles Manson…he was just a charming and psychotic yet smart murderer. Jesus used his authority to save our lives while psychopaths like Charles Manson destroyed it.
Finally, let’s looks at the rational-legal authority. This authority comes based on the rules and codes of authority that enforce the law. Again, this in my opinion is kind of like charismatic authority. Who made the rules that we follow so strictly? These were made by people who thought they knew what was better for us. We automatically and blindly follow the rules without questioning the enforcer because of the authority we give the law enforcer. It begs the question, who are you willing to give authority to?