Final answer:
Michael Maier implies that a person not swayed by reason will have to rely on some kind of authority, which can be interpersonal, traditional, or legal in nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Michael Maier suggests that if a person does not accept the force of reason, they must turn to authority. This authority could be either for justice or correction, depending on the context.
The type of authority Maier refers to is not explicitly academic or legal; it can be any form of accepted power that people are willing to follow, encompassing various aspects of social structure. For example, Max Weber identifies three types of authority—traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational—all of which can be recognized and obeyed by individuals in a society.
In the wider perspective offered by Weber and others, authority figures are not solely officials or legal entities, but can arise from tradition or personal characteristics. Therefore, Maier's statement can imply that those who reject reason must look towards established authorities, whether they be traditional leaders, individuals with charisma, or legal institutions to find guidance or decisions.
Plato's notion of a harmonious society underpinned by tiers of different roles and the disciplined overruling of passions by reason and knowledge further reinforces the idea that authority, in all its forms, is essential when reason alone is not sufficient or is outright rejected.