Might makes right
Encyclopedia
Might makes right is an aphorism
with several potential meanings (in order of increasing complexity):
, in which "vae victis
", Latin for "woe to the conquered", is firstly recorded. The first known use of this phrase in the English language was in 1846 by the American pacifist and abolitionist Adin Ballou
(1803–1890), who wrote "But now, instead of discussion and argument, brute force rises up to the rescue of discomfited error, and crushes truth and right into the dust. 'Might makes right,' and hoary folly totters on in her mad career escorted by armies and navies." (Christian Non-Resistance: In All Its Important Bearings, Illustrated and Defended, 1846.)
The phrase in reverse is echoed in Abraham Lincoln
's words in his February 26, 1860, Cooper Union Address:
"Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it" - in his attempt to defend a policy of neutral engagement with those who practice slavery, perhaps to appear more nationally oriented and religiously convicted in hopes of winning the presidential election (which he did).
The idea, though not the wording, has been attributed to the History of the Peloponnesian War
by the ancient Greek
historian Thucydides
. Thus stated: "...since you know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must."
In a letter to Albert Einstein
from 1932, Sigmund Freud
clearly explores this idea of "might versus right" as well. He discusses the relationship between the two and how this concept has in fact existed throughout time.
In the first chapter of Plato's The Republic, Thrasymachus
claims that Might makes right, which Socrates
then disputes.
"Might makes right" has been described as the credo
of totalitarian regimes. "Realist" scholars of international politics think of it as a game in a kind of "state of nature
" in which might makes right.
Aphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
with several potential meanings (in order of increasing complexity):
- In EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, the phrase is most often used in negative assessments of expressions of power. - The second related idea associated with the phrase connotes that a society's view of right and wrongWrongA wrong or being wrong is a concept in law, ethics, epistemology, and science. In a colloquial sense, wrongness usually refers to a state of incorrectness, inaccuracy, error, or miscalculation in any number of contexts...
is determined, like its perspective on history, by those currently in power. - The term can be used in the descriptive, rather than prescriptive way, in the same sense that people say that "History is written by the victors." Since every person labels what he/she thinks is good for himself/herself as "right," only those who are able to defeat their enemies are the ones who can push their idea of what is right into fruition.
- In terms of moralityMoralityMorality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
, those who are the strongest will rule others and have the power to determine right and wrong. By this definition, the phrase manifests itself in a normativeNorm (philosophy)Norms are concepts of practical import, oriented to effecting an action, rather than conceptual abstractions that describe, explain, and express. Normative sentences imply “ought-to” types of statements and assertions, in distinction to sentences that provide “is” types of statements and assertions...
sense. This meaning is often used to define a proscriptive moral code for society to follow, as well as while discussing social DarwinismSocial DarwinismSocial Darwinism is a term commonly used for theories of society that emerged in England and the United States in the 1870s, seeking to apply the principles of Darwinian evolution to sociology and politics...
and Weberian themes of the authority of the state (e.g. 'Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft').
History
The idea of "woe to the conquered" can be found in Homer and the hawk parable in Hesiod's 'Works and Days' and in LivyLivy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
, in which "vae victis
Vae victis
Vae victis is Latin for "Woe to the vanquished " or also "Woe to the conquered "....
", Latin for "woe to the conquered", is firstly recorded. The first known use of this phrase in the English language was in 1846 by the American pacifist and abolitionist Adin Ballou
Adin Ballou
Adin Ballou was an American prominent proponent of pacifism, socialism and abolitionism, and the founder of the Hopedale Community...
(1803–1890), who wrote "But now, instead of discussion and argument, brute force rises up to the rescue of discomfited error, and crushes truth and right into the dust. 'Might makes right,' and hoary folly totters on in her mad career escorted by armies and navies." (Christian Non-Resistance: In All Its Important Bearings, Illustrated and Defended, 1846.)
The phrase in reverse is echoed in Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's words in his February 26, 1860, Cooper Union Address:
"Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it" - in his attempt to defend a policy of neutral engagement with those who practice slavery, perhaps to appear more nationally oriented and religiously convicted in hopes of winning the presidential election (which he did).
The idea, though not the wording, has been attributed to the History of the Peloponnesian War
History of the Peloponnesian War
The History of the Peloponnesian War is an account of the Peloponnesian War in Ancient Greece, fought between the Peloponnesian League and the Delian League . It was written by Thucydides, an Athenian general who served in the war. It is widely considered a classic and regarded as one of the...
by the ancient Greek
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
historian Thucydides
Thucydides
Thucydides was a Greek historian and author from Alimos. His History of the Peloponnesian War recounts the 5th century BC war between Sparta and Athens to the year 411 BC...
. Thus stated: "...since you know as well as we do that right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must."
In a letter to Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
from 1932, Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
clearly explores this idea of "might versus right" as well. He discusses the relationship between the two and how this concept has in fact existed throughout time.
In the first chapter of Plato's The Republic, Thrasymachus
Thrasymachus
Thrasymachus was a sophist of Ancient Greece best known as a character in Plato's Republic.-Life, date, and career:...
claims that Might makes right, which Socrates
Socrates
Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon, and the plays of his contemporary ...
then disputes.
"Might makes right" has been described as the credo
Credo
A credo |Latin]] for "I Believe") is a statement of belief, commonly used for religious belief, such as the Apostles' Creed. The term especially refers to the use of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed in the Mass, either as text, Gregorian chant, or other musical settings of the...
of totalitarian regimes. "Realist" scholars of international politics think of it as a game in a kind of "state of nature
State of nature
State of nature is a term in political philosophy used in social contract theories to describe the hypothetical condition that preceded governments...
" in which might makes right.