Lecture on Hannah Arendt's On Revolution (Chapter 5: Foundation II: Novus Ordo Seclorum)

Introduction

• Presenter: Roger Berkowitz, Founder and Academic Director of the Haaretz Center at Bard College.
• Context: Discussion of Hannah Arendt's On Revolution, focusing on Chapter 5, "Foundation II: Novus Ordo Seclorum".

Key Themes

Novus Ordo Seclorum and Virgil's Influence

• Novus Ordo Seclorum: A Latin phrase meaning "new order of the ages" taken from Virgil's fourth Eclogue.
• Connection to America: Arendt argues that America was not just a new political entity but a rebirth, tying into Virgil's idea of a rebirth of Rome from Troy.
• Rebirth of the Roman Republic: America's foundation was seen as a rebirth of Roman political ideas, particularly authority and governance.

Distinction Between Power and Authority

• Power vs. Authority: Arendt distinguishes between power (in the people) and authority (in the Senate).
• America’s Political Challenge: Establishing authority was more complex than establishing power.

Authority in Modern America

• Loss of Authority: In the modern age, authority is diminished, though the American Revolution managed to establish it through the veneration of the Constitution.
• Constitution as Authority: The American Constitution is seen as a successful modern revolutionary founding due to its revered and worshipped status.

Historical and Philosophical Context

Authority and Law

• Absolute Need: Both the French and American Revolutions highlighted the need for an absolute authority to justify laws.
• Differences in Approach: France found authority in the sovereign people, whereas America discovered it in a non-divine founding act.

Roman Influence and American Constitution

• Roman and Greek Law: Arendt notes that ancient law was not necessarily divine but relational and political.
• Supreme Court as Authority: In America, the Supreme Court acts as a continuous constitutional assembly, like the Roman Senate, providing authority through interpretation rather than new power.

Foundation and Authority

• Act of Foundation and Veneration: The American founding act became a venerated tradition, creating perpetual authority.
• Supreme Court's Role: It serves as the locus of authority, akin to the Roman Senate, keeping the founding spirit alive.
• Augmentation of Authority: The concept of authority involves augmentation—adapting and expanding the foundational laws while maintaining their original spirit.

Conclusion

• Authority's Survival in America: The Constitution’s worshiped status is key to the continued presence of authority in America, unlike other parts of the world where authority has diminished.
• Integration Over Novelty: Rather than a completely new order, America's foundation integrates historical continuity with innovation.

Final Thoughts

• The lecture concludes with a reflection on the importance of understanding the connections between the founding principles and their applications today.

The discussion continues with an invitation to explore these themes further.