The specialty of rule hath been neglected, And look how many Grecian tents do stand Hollow upon this plain, so many hollow factions
… Take but degree away, untune that string, And hark what discord follows. Each thing meets In mere oppugnancy.
Shakespeare, Ulysses, Troilus and Cressida
The extent of discord that we see around us is surely unparalleled in my lifetime. I need not rehearse it: from our political and social situation, to the Church, to our neighborhoods and homes.
In a rightly famous passage in Troilus and Cressida Shakespeare sets forth in the mouth of Ulysses a view that had been at the heart of Western Civilization. The human good depends, and even consists especially in right order: an order in which each must play his part, exercising authority and obedience as fitting, according to a beneficent natural order.
Ulysses’s speech proceeds in stunning fashion:
… right and wrong… lose their names, and so … justice too. Then everything includes itself in power, Power into will, will into appetite, And appetite, an universal wolf, So doubly seconded with will and power, Must make perforce an universal prey And last eat up himself.
Authority has been overrun and replaced by appetite. Real authority is never raw power; rather it has true power when it is rooted in the truth of an objective natural order and the human good. Such authority is an irreplaceable agent of human flourishing, both in those who exercise it and in those under it. It is a masterpiece. Those in a position to exercise it—at whatever level—have a sacred duty to step up to it.
The disorder of our day stems fundamentally from a failure of authority—a failure to exercise it, by all of us who have it. This is not surprising, as authority has been long ridiculed and attacked, in theory and in practice. And we have not restrained our appetites but rather have let them grow wild. So we are left with misused and misdirected power in service of unbridled appetite—the wolf that ultimately eats up all that is good, and its very self.
Yes, we can and sometimes should point to glaring instances of failures in the authorities all around us. It can be terrifying. They could have and should have done better. For us. And in real ways, we and our loved ones are suffering and will continue to suffer because of it.
But now what? If we simply wallow in pointing to the failures of those authorities, then in turn we will fail to exercise our part. And it need not be so. The truth is this: the failure of those above and around me—while a serious challenge to me—never in itself constitutes my failure. If I fail, my failure will be mine.
“O, when degree is shaked, Which is the ladder of all high designs, The enterprise is sick.”
Yes, the enterprise is sick. Very sick. So now is the time for me to step up, to play my part. Where I owe obedience, I must still render it. Where I have authority, I must execute it, the best that I can. And whether it be recognized by others or not, and whether I significantly change the larger situation or not, I will have done what is needful.
I will still suffer because of others, and with others. But God grant me the strength to discern and to do my part for the good of all I love…and that others not suffer unnecessarily because of me. Not on my watch.
Husband, father, and professor of Philosophy. LifeCraft springs from one conviction: there is an ancient wisdom about how to live the good life in our homes, with our families; and it is worth our time to hearken to it. Let’s rediscover it together. Learn more.
Thanks John for such an apt message.
God Bless.
Thanks, Dan!
Thank you for the clarification.
Your view of philosophy isn’t uncommon. We humans have a tendency to believe our ideas must be best for ourselves.
The Bible writer Paul, who had an impressive CV of his own, compared the two views at Colossians. In ch. 2 v. 8 ff he referred to it a “empty deception according to human tradition”. My own current best example is the current round of elections, not just in the United States but many other places as well. It tells me that people are dissatisfied with what man have given them by way of authority. Yet they struggle on, trying to find the men qualified to solve made problems. Shouldn’t the creator of us be our go-to person?
Doug, Thank you for your followup. These are real issues. Indeed, St. Paul writes some strong words against bad philosophy. The Church, however, has not taken these to be strong words against philosophy itself, but rather against a philosophy or philosophers who reject faith. I would simply share two things from the magisterium of the Catholic Church, one from Pope John Paul II and the other from Pope Leo XIII. In his encyclical Faith and Reason John Paul II writes:
“Men and women have at their disposal an array of resources for generating greater knowledge of the truth so that their lives may be ever more human. Among these is philosophy, which is directly concerned with asking the question of life’s meaning and sketching an answer to it. Philosophy emerges, then, as one of the noblest of human tasks.” Then also his famous opening: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”
In “On the Restoration of Christian Philosophy” Leo XIII strongly calls for a renewal of the study of the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, writing: “Moreover, the Angelic Doctor pushed his philosophic conclusions into the reasons and principles of the things which are most comprehensive and contain in their bosom, so to say, the seeds of almost infinite truths, to be unfolded in good time by later masters with a goodly yield.”
The thoughts of both these popes gives encouragement and direction for the pursuit of real philosophy, in pursuit of the highest ends. Yes indeed, God is the one to go to! And one of the wings on which we can fly toward him is good philosophy–i.e., philosophy that does not pretend to be complete and then turn inward on itself, to the exclusion of divine revelation, but rather opens up to serve it. I hope this helps clarify how I am thinking.
“I will still suffer because of others, and with others. But God grant me the strength to discern and to do my part for the good of all I love…and that others not suffer unnecessarily because of me. Not on my watch.“
What a beautiful call to hope in the face of despair and prudent action in the face of calamity. Thank you, John, as always.
Thank you Joshua for the encouragement!
Excellent article, examples, and warnings! Thank you!!
Thank you Leigh Ann!
“If we simply wallow in pointing to the failures of those authorities, then in turn we will fail to exercise our part. …failure of those above and around me…never in itself constitutes my failure. If I fail, my failure will be mine.”
Amen. I think of the saints of old, many of whom lived during terrible times, and yet they persevered. St Augustine lived during the collapse of Rome, which sent the entire known world into a tailspin. Yet rather than wallow in sorrow, he accepted Christ and became one of our greatest saints.
We are all called to be saints of one sort or another. As you say, “now is the time for me to step up, to play my part.”
Thanks Tom. St. Augustine is indeed an apt example!
“Authority has been overrun and replaced by appetite. Real authority is never raw power; rather it has true power when it is rooted in the truth of an objective natural order and the human good.” Arguably, such a worldview was abandoned in the 19th Century, at the close of which Frederic Myers succinctly wrote these words: “The pessimist holds the view that sentient existence has been a deplorable blunder in the scheme of things. The egotist at least acts upon the view that the universe has no moral coherence, and that ‘each for himself’ is the only indisputable law.” Few, I fear, are those who can be pessimists without becoming egotists.
I think you’re right Newton.
Thank you Dr. Cuddeback
Thanks Juan.
All one needs to be an authority is to author something.
I know plenty of authorities, though none with whom I agree very much.
There are indeed different uses of the term authority…
Are you suggesting some from of nebulous socially-constructed committee’s definition of the term?
“I am weary of your quarrels,
Weary of your wars and bloodshed,
Weary of your prayers of vengeance,
Of your wrangling and dissensions;
All your strength is in your union,
All your danger is in discord;
Therefore be at peace henceforward,
And as brothers live together.” Longfellow’s Song of Hiawatha
Daniel, Perhaps I have not understood your comments. I was pointing to two distinct legitimate uses of the term authority. It seems your comment referred to ‘authorities’ in the sense of an expert in a certain field of knowledge. This is distinct, even though related, to the way I used the term in my piece, as in the authority of a parent over children. If I have misunderstood, I apologize.
No apology necessary, Dr. Cuddeback.
I’m not quite sure there’s much to understand about what might be the definitive distinctions between an object of authority and a subject of authority, either way.
I’ve read your CV. Impressive.
I do notice several references here to God. If that’s the author of the Bible, fine. I’m interested in him, too. (I got here from newadvent.org, an excellent reference site for history and religion.)
I am rather surprised that you and your correspondents don’t mention that book. One of its “little books”, Proverbs, has some ten occasions of “wisdom” (the Greeks said sophia), which philosophers are said to love. It used it (wisdom) some ten times in just the first three chapters. It’s personified in ch. 8, where it’s squarely on our side; v. 31.
Genesis covers the earliest rejection of authority (ch. 3). There were consequences of course, as today. Look what was lost to us: life in Paradise (1:8) and life forever at that. (2:17)
If the Bible is of use as a guide to life then is the problem a lack of authority, or our unwillingness to use it and follow it? It has worked for me, for some thirty years now.
What do you think?
Doug, Thank you for your comment and good question. I would say two things. First, that I have not referred to the Bible in this piece (and indeed many others that I have written) is certainly not because I don’t take scripture as the Word of God. I do. I am a philosopher. I have chosen to give reflections on various important life-issues through the lens of the natural light of reason. There is a great tradition for this within Christianity. To omit references to scripture, given what I am about here, in no way implies that scripture is not a more ultimate source.
My second point regards my asserting that a lack of authority is a central problem of our age. What I mean by this is that human persons are not exercising the authority they should in various venues of human life–especially in civil society and the household. Our unwillingness to follow the Bible is indeed a grave and central problem. That is completely compatible, in my judgment, with my asserting that we are failing to exercise authority well. Indeed, if we were to follow the Bible better, we would exercise authority much better.
I hope this helps clarify what I am thinking. Thank you again for asking.
This was so good, your insights SO helpful today in our country. I love your pondering and all your knowledge of history brought forth. It helps. I especially appreciate you discussing doing our part right where were at. Thank you for putting forth something positive and profound that we can do by taking ownership.
Thank you, Gabrielle. I am indeed convinced there will always remain much we can do right where we are.
Hi I’m new to your website. I read your posting from New Advent “Discord Today and the Failure of Authority”. I, too was wondering about not seeing the Bible mentioned as Doug mentioned. I see that you teach St Thomas Aquinas philosophy and Ethics. The Bible has been my Guide for the past 32 years in Christ.
On a personal level I am experiencing authority issues since I became a widow three years ago. Authority is very important to me. My desire is to honor God by being in Authority to the person(s) He has determined in my state in life. I know that this is a protection for me to be under proper authority. Especially as a widow. Your article helped me to come to grips with being a major share holder in a family run business which has run amuck since my husband’s passing. “Yes the enterprise is sick. Very sick. So now is the time for me to step up, to play my part. Where I owe obedience, I must still render it. Where I have authority, I must execute it, the best I can. And whether it be recognized by others or not, and whether I significantly change the larger situation or not, I will have done what is needful”. Indeed I know that I will suffer as well as others in my family. I pray God will dive me the wisdom and discernment need. Your article was timely and I dare to say providential . Thank you for your posting this. I will be signed up for more of your articles.
Dear Christine, Thank you for this comment. First of all, please do see my response to Doug regarding the Bible. I want to reiterate here: divine authority, which is expressed in a unique way in Scripture, is the ultimate authority.
I very much appreciate your sharing your challenge as a widow. My mother is a widow, and I must say that I had not even begun to realize the challenge of being a widow until I began to see it through her eyes.
All of us must discern how we are under authority and how we must exercise it. I think this can be especially challenging for a widow. I hope you can find comfort in God’s special promises in Scripture always to remember the widows. He is with you. This time of your life was foreknown and fore-planned. It is for your good, and the good of all those around you. Being faithful now is probably the last chapter in the beautiful story of your life–a story that is not complete without it. I pray that you have discernment and strength, and I ask for your prayers for me.
I’m not sure where the phrase originated, but I heard it first from Dr. David Anders on the Called to Communion radio show on EWTN. The phrase is “Authority is the principle of Unity”.
Now a principle is that from which flows other rational conclusions. I’ve meditated on this phrase for some time and considered what types and sources of authority create any sort of unity. Dictatorial authority creates unity – but only by forced “willingness” of participants, certainly not resulting in human flourishing. Many civil laws and statutes create a form a unity, occasionally furthering human flourishing (e.g. positive laws against murder, theft, etc). But civil law can also be directly against human flourishing as well, such as abortion laws.
It is only when authority emanates from the source of all Goodness, from God and the eternal law via the natural law, that true unity consistent with human flourishing is always the result.
Thank you, Gary. I agree. Indeed, remember that St. Thomas Aquinas says that evil law is no law at all.