Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show – “Ordo Amoris: The Hierarchy of Political Love”
Podcast Information:
- Title: The Michael Knowles Show
- Host/Author: The Daily Wire
- Description: Bask in the simple joys of being right. The Michael Knowles Show cuts through the madness of our politics and culture, analyzing the top stories of the day. Monday through Friday.
- Episode: Michael Knowles Live at YAF - "Ordo Amoris: The Hierarchy of Political Love"
- Release Date: February 8, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of The Michael Knowles Show, host Michael Knowles delivers a compelling lecture at the Young America's Foundation (YAF) as part of the William F. Buckley Jr. Lecture series. The lecture, titled “Ordo Amoris: The Hierarchy of Political Love,” delves into the ethical and moral frameworks that underpin American conservatism, contrasting them with liberal ideologies. Knowles emphasizes the importance of hierarchical love, rooted in both philosophical and biblical traditions, as essential to maintaining societal order and personal responsibility.
Main Lecture: Ordo Amoris and the Hierarchy of Love
Addressing Current Political and Cultural Climate
Knowles opens his lecture by expressing gratitude for the invitation and reflects on contemporary political issues, particularly immigration and border security. He states:
“I feel even better about it now that we have a functioning southern border again. We are less than 20 miles from Tijuana, but since January 20th, our odds of running into face tattooed foreign gangsters have dropped precipitously.” (00:03)
He criticizes the left’s stance on mass deportations, asserting that deporting illegal aliens is inherently American, pointing to historical precedents under various administrations, including Democratic ones. Knowles reinforces this by stating:
“As a simple matter of history, mass deportations are as American as apple pie.” (00:02:30)
Theological Underpinnings of Deportation and Justice
Knowles delves into biblical justifications for deportations, citing examples from the Old Testament where God sanctions the removal of foreign groups. He addresses the balance between not oppressing foreigners and enforcing justice:
“The injunction not to oppress the foreigner does not run contrary to justice. Rather, it is bound up in the execution of justice.” (00:09:00)
Referencing Vice President J.D. Vance's remarks, Knowles discusses the concept of Ordo Amoris—the proper ordering of love within societal and political structures. Vance’s analogy of choosing whom to save in a drowning scenario illustrates prioritizing loved ones over strangers:
“…you have a greater responsibility to your own son than you do to someone else's son.” (00:12:45)
Responding to Criticisms from Liberal Thinkers
Knowles critiques Rory Stewart, a former UK government minister and Yale professor, who dismissed the concept of Ordo Amoris as not present in the Gospels, labeling it an Aristotelian import into Catholic theology. Knowles defends Aquinas, emphasizing that Ordo Amoris is deeply rooted in both Aristotelian philosophy and Christian scripture:
“St. Thomas... did not import that or any other concept unconvincingly into Catholic theology.” (00:15:30)
He further supports his argument by citing Aquinas's Summa Theologiae, where Aquinas elaborates on the necessity of ordering love with God at the pinnacle, followed by self-love, then love for neighbors, and so forth.
“There must needs be some order in things loved out of charity, which order is in reference to the first principle of that love, which is God.” (00:20:10)
Empirical Evidence: Ideological Differences in Moral Circles
Knowles introduces a 2019 study titled “Ideological Differences in the Expanse of the Moral Circle”, which uses heat maps to depict how different ideologies allocate moral concern. He presents the study's findings, emphasizing that conservatives prioritize human relationships more narrowly compared to liberals, who extend moral concern broadly to non-human entities:
“There must needs be some order in things loved out of charity, which order is in reference to the first principle of that love, which is God.” (00:20:10)
Knowles uses this to argue that liberal moral priorities are misordered, leading to societal issues where care for distant or non-human entities overshadows responsibilities to immediate family and community.
Conclusion of Lecture
Knowles concludes his lecture by reiterating the necessity of restoring the proper order of love to address contemporary political and moral challenges. He attributes the current political ills to a shattered religious moral framework, advocating for a return to hierarchical love grounded in Christian morality.
“The only remedy to that is to restore order, not just to our streets and to our communities, that's good, too. But also to restore order to our loves...” (00:21:50)
Q&A Session
Following the lecture, Knowles engages with the audience through a Q&A session, addressing various questions that further illuminate his perspectives on faith, politics, and morality.
1. Addressing Anti-Christian Sentiment on Liberal Campuses
Audience Member Janine (00:23:36):
Janine, a student from Northwestern University, expresses concern about the anti-Christian and anti-religious sentiment on liberal campuses, seeking advice on countering this hostility.
Knowles’s Response (00:25:15):
Knowles advises approaching educators and peers with truth and love, emphasizing intellectual engagement and, if necessary, advocating for the dismissal of discriminatory professors. He references William F. Buckley Jr.'s efforts to combat atheist-communist professors:
“You could say, well, for starters, that it's illegal to cross the border illegally...” (00:43:39)
2. The Nature of Free Will
Audience Member Jake (00:27:57):
Jake from the University of Central Florida inquires about the nature of free will—whether it's limitless or constrained by environmental factors.
Knowles’s Response (00:28:51):
Knowles distinguishes between liberal and classical conceptions of liberty, arguing that true liberty involves knowledge and self-control. He asserts that without these, freedom is compromised:
“Only God is truly free. We are only free inasmuch as we make ourselves more like God.” (00:32:22)
3. Balancing Secularism and Religion
Audience Member Mateen (00:32:34):
Mateen, an Iranian American student, questions the role of secularism in preventing religious extremism, advocating for a balanced approach.
Knowles’s Response (00:33:10):
Knowles refutes secularism, labeling it as another form of detrimental ideology. He champions a society recognizing God’s existence, aligning with Christian principles while maintaining tolerance for other religions:
“The question is, okay, we have this intuition that God exists... How are we supposed to worship Him?” (00:33:10)
4. Maintaining Hope Amidst Political Challenges
Audience Member Sophie Yzatinsky (00:36:34):
Sophie from Cedarbu University praises the hopeful tone of Knowles’s show and inquires how he maintains this optimism.
Knowles’s Response (00:36:53):
Knowles attributes his hopeful mindset to his Christian faith, which provides a foundation for optimism and resilience despite political challenges. He contrasts his approach with the prevalent liberal disdain for particulars:
“I have a conception of how things are going to end. Good cause for celebration.” (00:36:53)
5. Balancing Faith and Politics with Secular Allies
Audience Member Lucy (00:39:51):
Lucy, a senior in high school, asks how to reconcile her Catholic faith with political alliances that might include non-religious individuals.
Knowles’s Response (00:40:31):
Knowles emphasizes prudence over purism in political alliances, advocating for pragmatic compromises to achieve broader goals without diluting core beliefs:
“The paramount political virtue is prudence.” (00:40:31)
6. Challenging Open Border Policies Using Secular Reasoning
Audience Member Juan Diaz (00:43:18):
Juan from the University of Texas at El Paso seeks advice on opposing open border policies using secular arguments.
Knowles’s Response (00:43:39):
Knowles suggests leveraging legal frameworks and natural reason while also highlighting the inefficacy of current policies funded by liberal patronage systems:
“You could point to the civil law, you could point to immigration law... Ultimately, good and bad, efficient and inefficient...” (00:43:39)
Key Takeaways
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Ordo Amoris as Foundational Moral Order: Knowles posits that a hierarchical order of love, prioritizing God and immediate relationships, is essential for a functioning society. This concept is deeply rooted in both classical philosophy and Christian scripture.
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Critique of Liberal Moral Priorities: The lecture argues that liberal ideologies misallocate moral concern by extending it too broadly, thereby neglecting fundamental responsibilities to family and community.
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Empirical Support for Conservative Moral Hierarchy: The referenced 2019 study underscores that conservatives naturally prioritize close human relationships over abstract or non-human concerns, validating the ordo amoris framework.
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Integration of Faith and Politics: Knowles advocates for a synergistic relationship between religious principles and political action, emphasizing that true liberty and moral order are achievable through disciplined, faith-informed governance.
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Pragmatic Approaches in Political Engagement: Through the Q&A, Knowles highlights the importance of prudence, intellectual engagement, and practical strategies in advancing conservative agendas within diverse and often oppositional environments.
Notable Quotes
-
On Mass Deportations Being American:
“As a simple matter of history, mass deportations are as American as apple pie.” (00:02:30) -
On Ordo Amoris and Justice:
“The injunction not to oppress the foreigner does not run contrary to justice. Rather, it is bound up in the execution of justice.” (00:09:00) -
On Vice President Vance’s Concept of Love Hierarchy:
“You have a greater responsibility to your own son than you do to someone else's son.” (00:12:45) -
On Classical Liberty:
“Only God is truly free. We are only free inasmuch as we make ourselves more like God.” (00:32:22) -
On Secularism vs. Religious Morality:
“Secularism is just another bad religion...” (00:33:10) -
On Maintaining Hope Through Faith:
“I have a conception of how things are going to end. Good cause for celebration.” (00:36:53)
Conclusion
Michael Knowles's lecture at YAF effectively intertwines philosophical discourse with theological principles to advocate for a structured and hierarchical approach to love and morality in political life. By emphasizing the Ordo Amoris, Knowles underscores the importance of prioritizing divine and familial relationships over abstract or liberal causes, positioning this framework as essential for both personal fulfillment and societal stability. The subsequent Q&A session further solidifies these arguments, offering practical advice on navigating the complex interplay between faith, politics, and modern societal challenges.
For those seeking to understand the conservative viewpoint on moral hierarchy and its implications for contemporary political discourse, this episode provides a thorough and thought-provoking exploration.