Étienne de La Boétie (Political theorist)

Étienne de La Boétie was a 16th-century French political theorist best known for his work "Discourse on Voluntary Servitude." In this essay, he explores the nature of political authority and the reasons people submit to tyranny. La Boétie argues that oppression persists not solely through force, but because individuals willingly accept their subjugation, often out of habit or fear. He advocates for the power of collective resistance, emphasizing that people have the ability to withdraw their consent and thereby liberate themselves. His ideas influenced later thinkers, including philosophers of freedom and civil disobedience.