The Triple Foundation of the Social Order

Rene Guenon assigned a triple foundation to the social order and political power:

  1. Metaphysical: The doctrine of the two powers.
  2. Cosmological: The doctrine of cycles.
  3. Sociological: The doctrine of castes.

The doctrine of the two powers refers to the relationship between Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power. Political power must be subservient to spiritual Wisdom.

The doctrine of cycles refers to the four ages, the decline associated with the transitions between ages, and the recovery of the Primordial Tradition and Primordial State leading to a Golden Age.

The doctrine of castes refers to the tripartite functional organization of society: the spiritual, the temporal, and the commercial. Then there is the fourth caste of the mass and beyond that the outcasts who have no fixed role in political power.

These three foundations are interrelated. The reversal of the powers of the various castes is analogous to the doctrine of cycles and result in the improper relationship between spiritual authority and political power. Any socio-political program, therefore, that claims to be based on Tradition must address in a concrete way each of these foundations.


References:
Evola Guenon De Giorgio by Piero Di Vona
Rene Guenon et la politique by Jean Hani

4 thoughts on “The Triple Foundation of the Social Order

  1. Pingback: » Traditional and Profane Science

  2. Pingback: » Hyperborea and the Primordial Tradition

  3. Mr. Upton, if you would like to promote your book in particular, and Sophis Perennis Press in general, I suggest you participate in the discussion on the topic of the foundation of social order rather than post an unrelated advert.

    Of course, the position of Gornahoor is to reject the very notion of a “Traditionalist School”. Nor do metaphysical principles need any “defense” — they are either understood or not. A school may “change”, but Tradition does not.

  4. WHERE DO THE PERENNIALISTS STAND?

    If you are interested in the state of the Traditionalist/Perennialist School
    in the English-speaking world
    â??the followers of René Guénon, Ananda Coomaraswamy,
    and especially Frithjof Schuonâ??
    you may also be interested in:

    Findings
    in Metaphysic, Path and Lore,
    With a Response to the Traditionalist/Perennialist School

    by Charles Upton

    Findings embraces a defense of Traditionalist principles,
    a number of metaphysical meditations based upon them,
    as well as an attempt to throw light on how the School has changed
    â??radically in some respectsâ??
    since Schuon’s death.
    It ends with a succinct definition of “Classical Traditionalism/Perennialism”â??
    a useful point of reference
    by which the changes in 21st century Perennialism can be tracked.

    Findings
    Sophia Perennis, 2010;
    310 pp Perfect Bound; ISBN 1597310964

    $19.95
    £13.95

    Available through
    Amazon.com
    Barnesandnoble.com
    and
    Amazon.co.uk;

    Also available through
    http://www.sophiaperennis.com

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