Philosophy / Unit 8 Philosophy 0326 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Consent Problem
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The idea
The consent problem: no living citizen signed any contract—authority justified by agreement requires agreement someone actually gave.
In practice
Hume's jab: telling a poor man he consents by remaining is like telling a shipped sailor he consents to the captain by not leaping into the sea.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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