The Root of Mutual Subordination

We discuss the last criteria of how we can rightly order our four dimensions and promote the basic goods through the concept of mutual subordination.  Mutual subordination is akin to self-transcendence but takes this notion out of the psychologic and rightly applies it to all dimensions and all the basic goods.  No dimension or basic good can bring about its own end but is entirely dependent upon the other dimensions to bring about their end.  

 
We review all four dimensions beginning with health where our biologic health is entirely dependent upon the other three dimensions to bring about their fulfillment while the body, in turn, is an integral part of fulfilling the other three dimensions’ ends. The psychologic and social are then analyzed concluding with the spiritual which we contend to be the ultimate in mutual subordination.  

 
Quick summary of our six foundational episodes.   The constituent elements our humanity are the four dimensions (biologic, psychologic, social, and spiritual) with the basic goods being the primary ends or goals of each dimension.  The concepts of balance, harmony, self-transcendence, and mutual subordination describe how to best order each dimension and their interrelationships in order to bring about human flourishing.  

References

The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned To It (whole text online) and The Spiritual Life and How to Be Attuned To It (book and translation quoted in podcast) by St. Theophan

 What It Means to Be Human by O. Carter Snead 

 Carl Trueman’s book Strange New World is an excellent introduction to expressive individualism while his book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self is a deeper exploration.  There are multiple interviews and lectures with Carl Trueman on the internet to include this one from Crossway.

E-mail for comments and questions at: Rootsofflourishing@gmail.com