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'''Auctoritas''' is a [[Latin]] word and is the origin of English "[[authority]]". While historically its use in English was restricted to discussions of the political [[history of Rome]], the beginning of [[phenomenology|phenomenological]] philosophy in the twentieth century changed the use of the word substantially.

'''Auctoritas''' is a [[Latin]] word and is the origin of English "[[authority]]". While historically its use in English was restricted to discussions of the political [[history of Rome]], the beginning of [[phenomenology|phenomenological]] philosophy in the twentieth century changed the use of the word substantially.

==Political meaning in Ancient Rome==

==Political meaning in Ancient Rome==

Politically, ''auctoritas'' was connected to the [[Roman Senate|Roman Senate's]] authority (''auctoritas patrum''), as opposed to [[potestas]] or [[imperium]] ([[political power|power]]) , which were held by the [[magistratus|magistrates]] or the [[plebs|people]]. In this context, ''Auctoritas'' could be defined as the juridical power to authorize some other act.

Politically, ''auctoritas'' was connected to the [[Roman Senate|Roman Senate's]] authority (''auctoritas patrum''), as opposed to [[potestas]] or [[imperium]] ([[power]]) , which were held by the [[magistrates]] or the [[people]]. In this [[context]], ''Auctoritas'' could be defined as the juridical power to authorize some other act.

The 19th-century [[classicist]] [[Theodor Mommsen]] describes the "force" of ''auctoritas'' as "more than advice and less than command, an advice which one may not safely ignore." Cicero says of power and authority, ''"Cum potestas in populo auctoritas in senatu sit."'' ("While power resides in the people, authority rests with the Senate.")

The 19th-century [[classicist]] [[Theodor Mommsen]] describes the "force" of ''auctoritas'' as "more than advice and less than command, an advice which one may not safely ignore." Cicero says of power and authority, ''"Cum potestas in populo auctoritas in senatu sit."'' ("While [[power]] resides in the people, [[authority]] rests with the Senate.")

A popular translation is 'the ability to make people do what you want, just by being who you are.'

A popular translation is 'the ability to make people do what you want, just by being who you are.'

===Auctoritas principis===

===Auctoritas principis===

After the fall of the [[Roman Republic|Republic]], during the days of the [[Roman Empire]], the Emperor had the title of [[princeps]] ("first citizen" of Rome) and held the ''auctorictas principis'' - the supreme moral authority -, in conjunction with the imperium and potestas - the military, judiciary and administrative powers.

After the fall of the [[Roman Republic]], during the days of the [[Roman Empire]], the Emperor had the title of [[princeps]] ("first citizen" of Rome) and held the ''auctorictas principis'' - the supreme moral authority -, in conjunction with the [[imperium]] and [[potestas]] - the military, judiciary and administrative powers.

== Hannah Arendt on ''Auctoritas'' ==

== Hannah Arendt on ''Auctoritas'' ==

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]