Definitions and Declarations
These definitions are not alphabetized, but are
in order of appearance on the website or grouped by
category.
Definitions - Basic Terms
- Libertas (Latin) - Liberty
(English) is generally thought of as a
condition in which an individual has immunity
from the arbitrary exercise of
authority; it often also implies the right
to exercise political rights such as standing
for office. It is often equated with
freedom
- Licentia (Latin) - Freedom (English)
refers, in a very general sense, to the state of
being free (i.e. unrestricted, unconfined or
unfettered). Also, liberation from restraint or
from the power of another:
independence.
- Emeritus (Latin) - Emeritus (Emerita
is used for women) is a title given to a retired
professor,
bishop or other professional. The term is
used when a person of importance in a given
profession retires, so that his/her former
rank is still in his/her title. For
the purposes of this website - Emeritus de
Libertas signifies someone who has "retired"
from their fight for liberty and freedom - thus
our designation "Heroes of Freedom".
- Argumentum (Latin) - Evidence (English) - is
any objectively observable or demonstrable
circumstance which tends to indicate or disprove
a proposition.
- Empirical Evidence (Inductive
Reasoning) is proof gained through the power of
observation.
- Ethos (Greek) - Character (English) -
The disposition, character, or fundamental
values peculiar to a specific person, people,
culture, or group.
- Logos (Greek) - Expression (English)
- The physical expression of an idea or concept.
An example would be the English derivative word
Logo, which represents a concept, idea, company
or product. In Rhetoric Logos refers to
logical appeal, and in fact the term logic
evolves from it. Logos normally implies numbers,
polls, and other mathematical or scientific
data.
- Pathos (Greek) - Passion (English) -
From the Greek word meaning "to suffer" or
"emotion") is one of the three
modes of persuasion in
rhetoric (along with
ethos and
logos). Pathos appeals to the audience's
emotions. It is a part of
Aristotle's
philosophies in
rhetoric.
- Ab Initio (Latin) - From the Beginning
(English) - In literature, refers to a story
told from the beginning rather than in medias
res (from the middle). In
law, refers to something being the case from
the start, rather than from when the court
declared it so. In science, refers to the
first principles. In other contexts, often
refers to beginner or training courses.
- Hodiernus (Latin) - Today (English) -
Quite literally means "Of the Present Day"
- De Jure (Latin) - In the Law (English)
- is an expression that means "based on
law", as contrasted with
de facto, which means "in fact".
The terms de jure and de facto are
used like "in principle" and "in practice" when
one is describing
political situations. They are also often
used when discussing
racial segregation. A practice may exist
de facto, where the people obey a contract
as though there were a law. A process known as "desuetude"
may allow de facto practices to replace
obsolete laws. On the other hand, practices may
exist de jure and not be obeyed or
observed by the people.
- Annuit Cœptis (Latin) - "Providence (God)
has approved (blessed) our undertakings" (English)
Motto on the reverse of the
Great Seal of the United States and on the
back of the
U.S. one dollar bill. "He" refers to
God, and so the official translation given
by the U.S. State Department is "He [God] has
favored our undertakings".
Definitions - Government Types and Social Order
(Condensed)
This is only a short list of the types of
governments and social orders, and my explanations
are meant to be simple, brief overviews and not
all-encompassing and by no means authoritative. The
descriptions and definitions listed below are not complete as volumes have been written and are
continuing to be written regarding each of these
subjects.
Factoid - The United States is not a
"Democracy" in the truest sense of the word.
We are at best a Democratic Representative
Constitutional Republic.
Individuals within the
States elect their representatives to govern them at
the local and state level. Each state within this
republic has representation in our national assembly
- both in the upper house (Senate) and lower house
(House of Representatives). Up until the XVII
Amendment to the constitution in 1912 Senators were
appointed by the states to their seats. The XVII
Amendment allows for state-wide direct election of
senators by the people.
The United States is a tight confederation of
independent "states"...Thus the term "United"
States. One is not a resident of "The United
States", but a resident in which state they reside
and since the states are unified under a common
national constitution, thus a resident or citizen of
the "United" States. Read my essay on the
Prospect of a National ID
Card.
- Anarchy (unrestrained freedom) -
Anarchy is the complete absence of authoritative
government control. The individual is free
to choose ones own actions without regard for
authority of law. "Anarchy,
as a social condition, refers to the
breakdown of law and order and mob rule. It is
usually a short lived situation, with order
being reestablished on the basis of the prior
social order or a new one. - Wikipedia"
- Utopian Anarchy - "Athenian
Democracy" - Utopia is a social order where the
individual works, thinks and plans for the
betterment of society as a whole with no
planning, inducement or control exerted by an
outside authority. This type of government
cannot exist in real life as basic human nature,
self interest, and materialism are not conducive
to the perpetuation of this societal order.
- Patriarchy - This is a society that
is based upon the individuals respect and
submission to control of the laws, wills and
decrees of the eldest male members. This
order may exist at a local (familial) or tribal
(clan) level. A Matriarchy is the
female complement to this order.
- Tribalism (Communal) - This is an
order of government where the governmental
authority is divided into semi-autonomous
groups, tribes or "clans". Generally there
is little or no sense of ownership of property
and the individual works for the betterment of
the clan. The Native American Indian
societies that were encountered at their
earliest levels by explorers generally fell into
this category and could not understand the
concept of ones "ownership of land". As
the Colonial conquests ensued, most of this
level of social order was consumed, destroyed or
forcibly converted.
- Despotism - This is generally defined
as the absolute rule of an individual or small
group by force.
- Colonialism - A society that seeks to
expand its influence by the use of settlement or
conquest and through subjugation of the
conquered territory to their authority, control,
belief system or laws. Colony
- A disconnected branch
of social order that is connected and
responsible to the rule of a distant authority.
- Dictatorship - The absolute rule of a
single individual (usually for his benefit). Usually
tyrannical and rule is often enforced without
regard for rule of law, only the whim of the
individual.
- Benevolent Dictatorship - Similar to
above where the ruler seeks the betterment of
the society as a whole or whereby the leader
believes that he has responsibility to society rather than whim,
conquest or personal enrichment.
- Military Dictatorship - Absolute
rule, often brutally enforced by a military
hierarchical command structure.
- Monarchy - The rule of a single
individual for life. This individual is
generally the embodiment of the aspirations,
achievements and heritage of the society.
This person is chosen often based upon the
concept of a royal blood line (Hereditary
Monarchy), tradition, election (Elective
Monarchy), special act, ability or self
proclamation. Powers are granted, revoked
and disputes decided by the Monarch or his
assigns (Prince, Princess, Duke, Duchess,
Viceroy, Lord, etc.) on his/her behalf.
Emir(ates) are another example of this type of
social order.
- Constitutional Monarchy - Similar to
above where the power of the Monarch or Emir is
restrained by powers, rights and authority
vested within the people through a constitution
or statement of rights. The British Magna
Carte is a fine example of this type of document
and is one of the first "modern" documents
establishing individual rights, freedoms and
responsibilities under law.
- Commune - A group of people who
choose to live, work and voluntarilly submit to
the authority of the group for the enrichment of
the whole.
- Communism - is a Totalitarian (total
and absolute control) form of government where
the power of the state is vested in that of a
single party or group that controls every aspect
of the life of the individual through central or
regional planning. The theory of central
planning and the concepts and precepts of
communism were originally developed by Karl Marx
and later adapted by Lenin(ist) (Soviet),
Mao(ist) (China) and others where the means of
production (Capital) and the resources of the
country were held by and tightly
controlled by a central authority (the communist
elite or party) and distributed on an as-needed
basis. "From each by his ability, to each
according to his need" was the central theory of
this classless society where all are equal and
would endeavor through the submission to and the
guidance of a central authority to work for the
betterment of the whole. Here again, as
evidenced by the implosion of the Soviet Union
and the transition of China to a more capitalist
form of government, this concept cannot compete
with basic needs of human nature.
- Single Party State - This is where
only a single party (group of political thought) is allowed by law to exist
and exercises absolute control over the country.
- Theocracy - The rule of law is
derived from religious doctrine and its decrees
are absolute. This type of government is evidenced
by a strict Islamic State (A Rule of Law
under the religious code of the Islamic
religion).
- Democracy - The truest form of
Democracy (Direct Democracy) involves the
concept of the simple rule of a majority with a
one person = one vote basis. This type of
government can only exist at a local level as
beyond this level regional, hereditary, cultural
and even economic variances cannot allow for an
effective majority or even in some cases a
plurality rule. Democracy as a term means
that the "power of the state" resides with the
people and is assigned by the people to the
government whether through individual vote
(Direct) or through a vote of their elected
representatives (Republic).
- Republic(an) - A Republic is a
Representative Democracy where voters choose
from a list of candidates from more than one
political party (or ideology) and they in turn
enact laws and enforce this legislation through
the consent and will of the people. This type of
government embodies a list of
rights (Constitution) owned by the people and a limited list of
responsibilities given to the government to
perform its duties.
- Nationalism - A principle by where
the Nation (Regional identity, shared culture or
ethnicity) is the primary foundation principle
for the existence of the government.
Nationalists may or may not believe that their
"nation" is better or is more entitled to exist
than others, but often Nationalist societies are
more prone to believe in their racial or
cultural superiority. Nationalists believe
that one cannot "join" a group, but must be born
into it by means of a shared culture, inherited
race, religion or common value system.
Nationalism is not to be confused with
Patriotism whereby one is devoted to the
existence and betterment of their own societal
order rather than the existence, promotion or
cultivation of ones own race or culture.
- Nazism & Fascism - Two of the
most extreme forms of Nationalist thought to
appear in the 20th century. Nazism began
with the National Socialist revolution in
Germany upon the belief and principle of the
superiority of the Aryan (Pure White) race to
the exclusion of all others. Nazism (Nazi)
principles were founded in the promotion of the
German (Aryan) race with a strong centralized
government (Socialist) whereby the central
government through the use of force, coercion
and conquest would suppress or destroy other
minority groups within its control.
Fascism is generally used to describe a similar
state to Nazism that arose through the power of
Benito Mussolini in Italy between 1922 and 1943.
Fascism in essence is an extreme version of
Nationalism.
- Capitalism - A socio-economic system
whereby the means of production (Capital) are
privately owned and individuals or groups of
individual citizens make choices with regard to
the best use of the capital rather than that of
a centralized government as seen in Socialism or
Communism. The foundation principles for a
Capitalist society are the ownership of private
property, the private ownership of Capital and
the ability of the individual to exercise free
will over their investment in such ventures.
- Corporate Governance - (Corporatism)
is a societal order whereby power within the
society extends from limited groups of
individuals that represent the interests of
businesses, manufacturing, industrial,
agriculture or other private enterprise.
Leaders within this type of societal order are
generally responsible to owners (share or stake
holders) for maximizing return on capital
(profit) rather than a strict set of principles,
beliefs or ideals. The latest
developing form of Corporate Governance and its
influence is currently being extended by
multi-national corporations (Corporations doing
business in and having capital invested in more
than one country) beyond traditional borders as
the free flow of capital from nation to nation
is being managed by these entities to provide
maximum return on investment.
Declarations - Principles of Liberty
- Personal Responsibility
- Free Will - Freedom of Choice
- Respect of Property
- Respect of Liberty
- Rule of Law
- Due Process
- Value of Life
- Subjugation of the Government to the "will
and consent
of the people".
Some English Definitions Provided
by Wikipedia.org
and are freely distributable under the
GFDL
Latin and Greek Translations to English
equivalents are
Approximate and may be only an example of ONE
Meaning. The rest is of course, my own
personal ramblings and may have no relevance to you
or life in the universe whatsoever. Remember
to tip your waiters and as always, your mileage may
vary. If you like what you read, send me an
email at
james@iqbio.net if not, well God bless you
anyway.
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