Authority & Permission
Legitimacy to act: legal rights, social permissions, and institutional backing. What you are allowed to do regardless of capability. The difference between can and may.
Why Authority Matters
Having information and resources means nothing without the legitimate authority to act. A doctor with perfect diagnostic knowledge cannot prescribe without a medical license. An agent system with access to all data cannot execute transactions without proper permissions. Authority transforms capability into legitimate action across legal, organizational, financial, geographic, coercive, and moral dimensions—it's the social contract that enables power to be exercised without constant resistance.
Six Authority Dimensions
Authority vs. Capability
These dimensions measure what you're allowed to do, not what you can do. An agent system might have technical capability to execute trades (Resource Control), but without proper regulatory licenses (Legal Authorization) and financial limits (Budget Authority), those actions would be illegitimate. Authority without resources is powerless; resources without authority are illegitimate. Together they enable legitimate, effective action.