higherauthority
Higher authority is a term that denotes an entity or source deemed superior in power, legitimacy, or epistemic status, to which subordinate individuals, institutions, or norms defer bindingly. It can refer to legal frameworks, sovereigns, religious or moral commands, and organizational or administrative rules. The concept is central to understanding deference, compliance, and the structure of power within a system of rules.
In legal systems, the hierarchy of authorities places constitutions, fundamental laws, and supreme courts above ordinary
In ethics and religion, higher authority can mean divine commandments, sacred texts, or moral principles regarded
Critics argue that obedience to higher authority can justify abuses or suppress dissent, while proponents emphasize