The Crisis of Authority with D.C. Schindler

This is an in-depth conversation with philosopher D.C. Schindler, author of the forthcoming article "The Crisis of Authority" in Communio. In this episode, Robert Mixa and D.C. Schindler discuss the profound erosion of authority in Western society, its ties to liberalism's promises and pitfalls, and the rising tide of postliberal reactions. Schindler delves into the essential distinction between authority and mere power, arguing that true authority translates transcendent truth into the immanent realm with the memory of ultimate things. Drawing on thinkers like Augusto del Noce, Hannah Arendt, and Byung-Chul Han, we discuss how modern politics, by reducing governance to practical matters and bracketing out metaphysical truths, has left us vulnerable to counterfeits and a deeper human crisis. From the Roman roots of "auctoritas" to the Christian synthesis of Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome, Schindler offers a timely reflection on the nature of authority, asking what it is in reality.