The Politics of Obedience: A Discourse on Voluntary Servitude

Summary

In this seminal work of political philosophy, Boetie asks one of the most obvious questions of political theory: why is it that a minority of rulers can remain in power over a majority of subjects who pay all the taxes?

The answer might be quite surprising to us all. The conclusion is that the people tend to enslave themselves, to let themselves be governed by tyrants.

Liberty is the natural condition of the people. Servitude, however, is fostered when people are raised in subjection. People are trained to adore rulers. While freedom is forgotten by many, there are always some who will never submit.

What is the answer then?

The author brilliantly and obviously outlines these points in the pages that follow in a way that is illuminating and also simple. It is we who enslave ourselves at the beck and call of 'authority'. Enjoy this classic work that roots sovereignty into philosophy and demonstrates how simply the tides can change.