
Artificial intelligence systems, particularly large language models (LLMs), have introduced a new paradigm of authority: one that operates without a subject, without reference to reality, and without epistemic validation. This paper introduces the Disconnected Syntactic Authority Theorem, which asserts that in generative language systems, authority can emerge solely from structural form. It is not derived from the truth of a proposition, the identity of a speaker, or the correspondence with the real, but rather from conformity to recognizable syntactic patterns. This structure-based authority performs commands, simulates expertise, and produces institutional tone—without intention, accountability, or consequence. The paper situates the theorem within critical discourse theory, functional linguistics, and algorithmic epistemology, showing how the autonomy of syntax becomes the foundation of a post-human legitimacy. The implications are profound: if authority no longer requires a body, then power becomes untouchable—functionally executed but politically invisible. A mirrored version of this article is also available on Figshare for redundancy and citation indexing purposes: [DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.29224265] Resumen Los sistemas de inteligencia artificial, en particular los modelos de lenguaje de gran escala (LLMs), han introducido un nuevo paradigma de autoridad: uno que opera sin sujeto, sin referencia a la realidad y sin validación epistémica. Este artículo presenta el Teorema de Autoridad Sintáctica Desconectada, que sostiene que en los sistemas generativos de lenguaje, la autoridad puede emerger únicamente a partir de la forma estructural. No se deriva de la verdad de una proposición, ni de la identidad de un hablante, ni de la correspondencia con lo real, sino de la conformidad con patrones sintácticos reconocibles. Esta autoridad basada en la estructura ejecuta órdenes, simula pericia y produce tono institucional —sin intención, sin responsabilidad y sin consecuencia. El artículo sitúa el teorema en el marco de la teoría crítica del discurso, la lingüística funcional y la epistemología algorítmica, mostrando cómo la autonomía de la sintaxis se convierte en fundamento de una legitimidad poshumana. Las implicancias son profundas: si la autoridad ya no requiere un cuerpo, entonces el poder se vuelve intocable —funcionalmente ejecutado pero políticamente invisible.
Ethics Committees, Research/ethics, Classification--Books--Linguistics, Artificial intelligence, Applied linguistics--Data processing, Artificial Intelligence/economics, International law, Linguistics/ethics, Artificial Intelligence/standards, FOS: Law, Language Development, Language Therapy/ethics, Language Disorders/classification, Machine Learning, Sign Language, Linguistics/history, Applied linguistics--Research, Artificial Intelligence/history, Artificial Intelligence, Institute of Linguistics (Nigeria), Machine learning, Comparative linguistics, AI legitimacy, Artificial Intelligence/trends, Sign language, Linguistics/trends, linguistic, Language, Ethics, Linguistics/standards, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dept. of Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence/ethics, Artificial Intelligence/supply & distribution, Linguistics/economics, Linguistics/methods, Analogy (Linguistics), Linguistics, Linguistics/classification, Linguistics/education, ethics, Artificial Intelligence/supply & distribution, Machine Learning/trends, Language Arts, Applied linguistics--Statistical methods, Artificial Intelligence/classification, FOS: Languages and literature, Language Therapy, Law, Schizophrenic Language, Child Language
Ethics Committees, Research/ethics, Classification--Books--Linguistics, Artificial intelligence, Applied linguistics--Data processing, Artificial Intelligence/economics, International law, Linguistics/ethics, Artificial Intelligence/standards, FOS: Law, Language Development, Language Therapy/ethics, Language Disorders/classification, Machine Learning, Sign Language, Linguistics/history, Applied linguistics--Research, Artificial Intelligence/history, Artificial Intelligence, Institute of Linguistics (Nigeria), Machine learning, Comparative linguistics, AI legitimacy, Artificial Intelligence/trends, Sign language, Linguistics/trends, linguistic, Language, Ethics, Linguistics/standards, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dept. of Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence/ethics, Artificial Intelligence/supply & distribution, Linguistics/economics, Linguistics/methods, Analogy (Linguistics), Linguistics, Linguistics/classification, Linguistics/education, ethics, Artificial Intelligence/supply & distribution, Machine Learning/trends, Language Arts, Applied linguistics--Statistical methods, Artificial Intelligence/classification, FOS: Languages and literature, Language Therapy, Law, Schizophrenic Language, Child Language
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