New Book Explores Trifunctional Archetypes in U.S. Law and Government
Charles Lincoln's new book, 'Gods, Judges, and Presidents: Trifunctional Archetypes in American Law and Government,' examines the underlying cultural and symbolic assumptions that shape American legal institutions. The book challenges the conventional view of the three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—as entirely distinct entities. Instead, Lincoln argues that these branches, while having specific legal powers, also embody recurring cultural figures or 'archetypes' of authority. He draws on comparative mythology, classical political thought, and modern psychology to illustrate how human communities have historically differentiated forms of authority, such as judgment, force, and social organization. The book suggests that while the U.S. Constitution is secular, it inherits older problems of legitimacy and authority that were often addressed by religious systems through sacred office, ritual, and myth. Lincoln emphasizes that the overlap in functions among the branches, such as Co...
