Étienne de La Boétie

Étienne de La Boétie was a 16th-century French philosopher and thinker, best known for his work on political power and authority. He explored why people often accept and obey governments or rulers, even when those authorities may be unjust or oppressive. La Boétie argued that voluntary obedience is the foundation of tyranny, and that if people collectively refuse to support unjust rulers, they can challenge or even overthrow oppressive systems. His ideas emphasize the importance of individual and collective resistance to authority, highlighting how power depends on people's consent.