Lecture 6 Ambrose and the Powerful Wealthy

Dr. Ann T. Orlando14 March 2013

Economic and Political Power and Corruption

Biblical background on Naboth Earlier Patristic Understanding of Naboth Ambrose and Roman Power Structure Background of “On Naboth” Assignments

Outline

According to John Locke (Two Treatises on Government)◦ Political power is the right of making laws with penalty of death

and consequently all lessor penalties◦ Government’s primary purpose by enacting laws is to protect

individual life, liberty and property ◦ Another purpose of Government is to secure (defend) the

common good of those governed But which government has the right to rule (legitimacy)

and by what authority◦ For Locke, free individuals (in their natural state) give

Government its power to rule (social contract)◦ In the U.S., Constitution is source of legitimacy and authority (in

other words, the Constitution is our social contract) Government’s legitimate role can be undermined by

corruption and exploitation

Modern Political Power and Legitimacy

Corruption is an abuse of the authority, legitimacy and/or purpose of political system. Types of corruption:◦ Bribery◦ Nepotism◦ Simony

A definition of corruption: An act is corrupt if it is performed by an agent of an institution if and only if:◦ The act an effect, of undermining, or contributing to the undermining of,

some institutional process and/or purpose of some institution, and/or an effect of contributing to the despoiling of the moral character of some role occupant of the institution because they are an agent of the institution

◦ And at least one of (a) or (b) is true: (a) In performing the act, the agent of the institution foresaw or expected a

morally wrong effect (b) The agent did not have to perform the act

See http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/corruption/

Political Corruption

Definition: to take unfair advantage, usually associated with labor, commerce and money

More formal philosophical considerations, types of exploitation:◦ No benefit at all to expoitee (free riders)◦ Some benefit, but not sufficient (sweatshops)◦ Benefit is not authentic (drug dealers)

See Robert Mayer, “What’s Wrong with Exploitation?,” Journal of Applied Philosophy, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2007, available at http://www.luc.edu/faculty/rmayer/mayer22.pdf

Exploitation

NB, in the LXX, this is 3 Kings; 1 and 2 Samuel are referred to as 1 and 2 Kings

The story of the rise of the kings of Israel and their destruction, leading to Babylonian captivity◦ Corruption of power given to them by God◦ Exploitation of poor

Ahab was worse of all the kings of Israel

Historical Setting of 1 Kings

Read 1 Kings 21 Who is exploiting

◦ What kind of exploitation? Who is corrupt

Ahab, Naboth, Jezebel (1 Kings 21)A Story of Corruption and Exploitation

St. Ambrose (340-397) Civil administrator in Northern Italy Milan now military capital of Western Empire

to counter Goths When orthodox bishop of Milan died in 373,

people acclaimed Ambrose bishop◦ Ambrose tried to flee, but was stopped◦ Baptized, ordained priest, then bishop within a week

Friends with Basil and Gregory Nazianzus Wrote a very influential Duties of Clergy Also wrote many hymns

Written by St. Paulinus, at the urging of St. Augustine

Tells the story of the bees and the infant Ambrose

Gives some insights into the imperial and ecclesial conflicts during Ambrose tenure as bishop of Milan◦ Milan, not Rome, capital of Western Roman

Empire in late 4th C◦ Conflict between Arian and Orthodox members of

imperial families

Life of Ambrose

Ambrose wrote On Naboth c. 385 - 388 Emperor Valentinian II was a child, age 4, when proclaimed

emperor in East, succeeding his father Valentinian I, in 375 Real power was with his uncle, Valarian and his mother,

Justina; both of whom were Arians In 385 Justina ‘ordered’ Ambrose to turn over his Orthodox

basilica for Arian use by the Arian bishop Auxentius Ambrose refused and his congregation joined him in

barricading the basilica◦ To prevent a wide-spread riot, Justina rescinded the order

In 389 Theodosius the Great assumed control of all Roman Empire; ◦ Very orthodox, further enhancing Ambrose political stature◦ End of any Arian Imperial leaders

The Complex Political-Religious Milieu of Late 4th C Milan

Themes◦ Avarice of rich destroys rich and poor◦ Almsgiving benefits rich and poor

Outline 1.1 – 2.4 Introduction addressed to rich 2.5 – 3.14 Ahab offers Naboth money for vineyard 4.15 – 5.19 Fasting of Rich and Poor 5.20 – 5.26 Plight of Poor 6.27 – 8.39 Abundance of Rich Does Not Help Them 8.40 – 10.46 Why Rich Should Help Poor and Return to Naboth

and Jezebel 11.47 – 12.51 Ahab Takes Vineyard and is Cursed by Elijah 12.52 – 16.66 What Rich Should Do 16.67 – 17.73 Conclusion

Structure of On Naboth