Kryzys autorytetu
The crisis of authority

Summary/Abstract: The authoress analyzes the term „authority”. She noted that auctoritas is the Latin term which literally meaning ‚growth’ and that is why the Roman law was associated with a group of people with a socially recognized knowledge. It has only the person or institution distinguished by its respective moral powers to speak on specific issues or make decisions on the matter. Without a doubt, value of this person (or institution) has a strong moral character. In everyday language the word „authority” does not fully reveal the true meaning as it has in Latin. Antonym of the word is potestas, the word denoting power, strength. In the system of Roman law this term indicates the authorities recognized socially as opposed to the word of auctoritas, which means socially recognized erudition (knowledge). Analysis of the use of these terms refers us to many areas of social life. One is politics, where usually there are different variants of meaning of both concepts. The authoress presents the relationship between auctoritas and potestas in reality of the Venezuelan population. She reaches for that purpose to the modern socio-political research.

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