But I think he didn’t . I also don’t see the connection between the Roman oligarchy (the senate) and a free society. Do you ?
I’m not familiar enough with that period of history to say. What I do know is that authority (as in non-coercive power) will continue to exist even after the state is gone. Ostracism and the like depend on it. You may not want to call it authority; fine, but it in effect amounts to what Miklos spoke of.
Oh, come on. Are you saying you don’t know that Rome was a militaristic and slave holding society ?
As to non-coercive power, I insist, it’s an idea wich doesn’t make much sense. What you’re referring to is sometimes called ‘moral authority’, wich again shows that plain authority is something else.
In my understanding, authority must face a burden of proof (I.E. ethics), since it is authority making the positive claim. If it does not pass the burden of proof then it is not legitimate.
Let’s say I want to learn how to fly a plane. I imagine I’d ask a pilot - he’s an authority in that area. So I assume that he knows what he’s talking about, because, as matter of fact he can fly a plane and I can’t. Now, let’s say I want to know the origin and purpose of the Fed. Whom should I ask ? My first thought is that economists working at state universities are the ones who know the answer, and will tell me the truth, right ?
I am insisting nothing of the sort. You read too much into what I say, and I am not sure why you are so contrary in general. Rome was far more complicated as an entity than to say it can be reduced into a militaristic, slave-holding society. It underwent many different changes throughout its long existence. At some point in time the senate might’ve possessed authority of the sort Miklos outlined - I am not familiar with Roman history, hence I refuse to pronounce judgement over a period of history I know little about.
Moreover, Miklos made it clear in what sense he was using the term. What is the point of semantic quibbles? You never disputed his contention that that was the original meaning of the term.
I am saying that Rome was the biggest slave-holding society on earth and that to portrait its senate as being based on ‘volunary’ ‘authority’ is a gross misrepresentation. I hope that’s not controversial, but somehow it seem to be. It may be enlightening to know what people like Spencer,. Bastiat, Molinari and other classical liberals had to say about classical antiquity. I think it wasn’t very flattering.
I think they removed that file - Do you know of any other link to it?