Matthew Minerd

At the New Polity Conference, Andrew Willard Jones just gave the best account of the hierarchical order of creation I've heard. He argued that Aristotle's view of hierarchy is ironically based on excessive egalitarianism (the view that everyone should be equal and if they aren't, they are defective and fit only to be means to the end of those on the top), whereas in St. Thomas's view of hierarchy (based on creation ex nihilo), inequality is essential to the common good of the universe and each individual part is also ordered to the final end of the whole - God is directly connected to every part of the hierarchy, not just the top. And more gifts are given downward than upward - each part receives more than it gives from above and, looking down, gives more than it receives. Nonetheless, Aristotle was right to observe that inequality is everywhere and necessary for the good of the whole, but his understanding of its function is profoundly different from that of St. Thomas. Jones did not even need to make explicit how this Thomistic view applies to the talk's theme of hierarchy between men and women, because the implications were clear. (The talk was titled "Not Unequal Enough: The Egalitarianism of Aristotle's Treatment of Women".) He perfectly expressed my entire worldview and richly deserved the standing ovation he received.