AUTHORITY

AUTHORITY, AUCTORITAS, a right to command, and make oneself obeyed. See POWER. In this sense we say the supreme or sovereign authority; absolute or despotic authority; the royal authority; the episcopal authority, the authority of the church; of a father, etc. See SUPREME, SOVEREIGN, ROYAL, DESPOTIC, etc. See also JURISDICTION, GOVERNMENT, etc.



Authority is also used for the testimony of an author; or writing. See TESTIMONY. The word is also particularly understood of an apophthegm, or sentence of some great or eminent person, quoted in a discourse, either by way of proof, or embellishment.

The term also includes rules, laws, canons, decrees, decisions, etc. alleged in confirmation of a matter in dispute. See CONFIRMATION, etc.

Passages quoted from Aristotle are of great authority in the schools; texts of scripture are of decisive authority. Authorities make a species of arguments called by rhetoricians, inartificial, or extrinsic arguments. See ARGUMENT.

For the use and effect of authorities, see EVIDENCE, REASON, PROBABILITY, FAITH, REVELATION, etc.

AUTHORITY