Vox populi, non vox Dei

Here’s a little item that interests me: a proverb, or aphorism, that’s been turned inside out.

You may recognize this:  “Vox populi, vox Dei.” A common understanding of this is: the voice of the people is the voice of God. That is to say, the voice (or sentiment) of the masses , or of the nation, or of the interest group, is the voice of authority, or the manifestation of rectitude.

Turns out that, early on, the phrase was popularly demeaned as a corruption of reality.

Just for the record, here’s what Alcuin of York, an 8^th century intellectual who advised Charlemagne and was a contender for smartest guy of his century, had to say:

“Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, Vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit.”

Letter from Alcuin to Charlemagne in 798

Which means, as you know:

'And do not listen to those who keep saying, 'The voice of the people is the voice of God.' because the tumult of the crowd is always close to madness.'

I don’t like Alcuin’s haughty and perhaps politically-motivated dismissal of the sentiment of “the people.”

I wish I could argue that folks in general make a real effort to be well informed and make reasonable attempts to speak the truth in support of the commonweal.

The truth, sadly, lies somewhere between the two extremes, or it may be unrecognizable, or, you know, whatever….

Vox populi isn’t a standard of excellence….

"...do no idle thing."

History, memory....what really happened?

"Man prefers to believe..."

The wisdom thing....

Some Cherokee wisdom


Copyright © Richard Carl Subber 2014