Word of the Day
December 22, 2020
Hierarchy
A system of ranking and organizing things or people, where each element is subordinate to the one above it; a structured order of authority or importance.
From Greek 'hierarchia' meaning 'rule of a high priest,' combining 'hieros' (sacred) and 'archein' (to rule). Originally used to describe the ranking of angels, it later expanded to describe any ranked system of authority.
Usage Examples
- The feudal hierarchy placed kings at the top, with nobles, clergy, and peasants in descending order of power and privilege.
- The founders rejected the notion that some people were born into a hierarchy that entitled them to rule over others.
- Modern bureaucracies can create their own form of hierarchy, where credentialed experts claim authority over ordinary citizens.
From the Show
The tension between hierarchy and liberty formed the backbone of the December 22nd discussion, as Princeton historian Allen Guelzo traced how American thought rejected the medieval assumption that some people were born to rule and others to obey.