New Polity The Crisis of Authority with D. C. Schindler
Jul 17, 2025
D. C. Schindler, an author and thinker on authority, discusses the critical loss of authority as a defining human crisis. He connects Nietzsche’s idea of the 'death of God' to societal collapse and the fragmentation of social order. Schindler outlines how true authority should be rooted in transcendent values, challenging perceptions of freedom tied to submission. The conversation also dives into the importance of self-sacrifice, the interplay between obedience and education, and the evolution of authority through history, ultimately arguing for a balanced relationship between leadership and society.
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Death of God as Loss of Authority
- The "death of God" represents the loss of real authority rather than just the loss of a deity concept.
- Without authority, the world loses its moral and existential orientation, leading to chaos.
Authority as a Sacramental Mediation
- Authority has a sacramental character as a mediator between the transcendent and the imminent.
- Without a real transcendent order, authority degenerates into mere power.
Authority Liberates Participation
- True authority liberates and inspires participation rather than merely demanding submission.
- Authority reveals a transcendent order accessible to those under it, requiring their free assent.
