[SaraDagan]

I'm reading at the moment "To Have or To Be" - an inspiring book written by Erich Fromm.

I have reached the chapter where he explains the meaning of 'authority', actually he claims that there are two meanings for the same concept: 'a rational authority' and 'an irrational authority'.

All of a sudden the word Author poped-up and I was thinking of the connection between these two words.

I am neither a linguist nor a semantic expert, but I assume the semantic root of 'author' is 'authority'.

Any idea why?

 

[Carol (was Dara)]

I have no idea why, but you're right that it's an interesting thought. 

 

[Remi Michaud]

I hadn't thought of it before but it is interesting. Did a little digging and I found this.

 

[SaraDagan]

I hadn't thought of it before but it is interesting. Did a little digging and I found this.

OH, thanks for the link and the digging i find this website very useful.

 

[R. M. Reed]

The link brings me right back to this thread.

 

[SaraDagan]

I hadn't thought of it before but it is interesting. Did a little digging and I found this.

BTW how did you do "THIS" - I.E. change the name of the link? i'm curious... thanks in advace

 

[SaraDagan]

The link brings me right back to this thread.

Reading Fromm's writing about rational and irrational authorities makes me think of the 'rational authority' of the author: as long as he writes his work, he has a total authority for his writings. However, once his writing is published, his authority is limited to the copy rights etc, and not for the interpretation, inspiration, critics and so on...

unless he is an 'Irrational Author' i.e. a Tyrant ruler which enforces his people to buy, read, practice and praise ...

http://www.amazon.com/Have-Be-Continuum-Impacts/dp/0826417388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309039961&sr=1-1

 

[Remi Michaud]

BTW how did you do "THIS" - I.E. change the name of the link? i'm curious... thanks in advace

Change your html tag:

When you post a link, you usually see

[url]link url[/url]

And that'll show the link.

In order to change the text, you change the tag to

[url=link url]Whatever you want[/url]

And that'll show the "whatever you want" as the link.

 

[SaraDagan]

Change your html tag:

When you post a link, you usually see

[url]link url[/url]

And that'll show the link.

In order to change the text, you change the tag to

[url=link url]Whatever you want[/url]

And that'll show the "whatever you want" as the link.

Just checking

 

[SaraDagan]

Change your html tag:

When you post a link, you usually see

[url]link url[/url]

And that'll show the link.

In order to change the text, you change the tag to

[url=link url]Whatever you want[/url]

And that'll show the "whatever you want" as the link.

It works! thanks alot - have a nice weekend

 

[Jon Olson]

Change your html tag:

When you post a link, you usually see

[url]link url[/url]

And that'll show the link.

In order to change the text, you change the tag to

[url=link url]Whatever you want[/url]

And that'll show the "whatever you want" as the link.

Neat trick.

 

[Ty Johnston]

Just looked up author and authority in my dictionary, and they both appear to have the same root from the Latin auctor or auctoritas, meaning a creator or ancestor.

 

[SaraDagan]

Just looked up author and authority in my dictionary, and they both appear to have the same root from the Latin auctor or auctoritas, meaning a creator or ancestor.

Makes sense!

At the moment it seems that I have No Authority - I am struggling with my 'creation' lol...

Wishing you all a creative weekend

 

[Chris Northern]

Auctoritas referred to the level of prestige in Roman society; political/social clout, his influence and ability to rally support. Dignitas, which is also a little more complicated than mere dignity and conceptually strongly related to auctoritias, was the other essential ingredient to political success.

Author in the sense of originator and authority... Hey, this guy is literate, best take him seriously.

Not sure any of that progresses the discussion. But, in this age of universal literacy, I have read some non-fiction that was complete nonsense yet taken seriously because... well, the writer had authority. In fiction it's a trick I use myself - I guess we all do - when I want to get a point across without getting caught up in the genuine complexity of a subject; plough ahead with authority, as the reader is caught up in the story and, if you don't express doubt about the point the reader will likely not notice that there are issues with it...

Interesting subject. Has anyone read Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson? Fascinating stuff.

 

[SaraDagan]

Auctoritas referred to the level of prestige in Roman society; political/social clout, his influence and ability to rally support. Dignitas, which is also a little more complicated than mere dignity and conceptually strongly related to auctoritias, was the other essential ingredient to political success.

Author in the sense of originator and authority... Hey, this guy is literate, best take him seriously.

Not sure any of that progresses the discussion. But, in this age of universal literacy, I have read some non-fiction that was complete nonsense yet taken seriously because... well, the writer had authority. In fiction it's a trick I use myself - I guess we all do - when I want to get a point across without getting caught up in the genuine complexity of a subject; plough ahead with authority, as the reader is caught up in the story and, if you don't express doubt about the point the reader will likely not notice that there are issues with it...

Interesting subject. Has anyone read Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson? Fascinating stuff.

Couldn't agree with you more... it reminds me of a true story: when my best friend was little - around the age of 5 she took the elevator with her nanny. some one was smoking and some one else said - you are not allowed to smoke here... the smoker replied: why not? the man said because it's written here "no smoking" - at that point my friend said: it's not forbidden because it's written - it's written because it's forbidden... - the power of the written word over grownups... lol

Will check the book out...
thanks.