Ordo Amoris—at first glance, it may sound like just another Latin phrase that belongs in an old tome buried in a theological library. But don’t be fooled. This concept cuts to the very marrow of what it means to live ethically, to love rightly, and to prioritise what truly matters in life. Recently, the idea has burst into public conversation thanks to a spirited exchange between US Vice President JD Vance and former British MP Rory Stewart. At its core, their debate wasn’t just political theatre—it touched on how we arrange the loves and loyalties in our lives.
"Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams," Dostoyevsky once wrote. This challenging truth will help frame our exploration of Ordo Amoris. Let’s strip away the jargon and bring this idea into the light.
Understanding Ordo Amoris
So, what is Ordo Amoris? Translating to "the order of love," it’s more than a poetic philosophy—it’s a framework for arranging our loves and commitments according to their importance. St Augustine popularised the concept, arguing that a well-ordered life depends on loving things in the proper measure. Misplaced love, he warned, leads to chaos and moral disarray.
In simpler terms, it asks: is your love for family in its rightful place? What about your community, your nation, or humanity as a whole? Augustine’s insights remain strikingly relevant in a world bogged down by competing responsibilities—from personal relationships to the global challenges crying out for attention.
Philosophical roots of Ordo Amoris
St Augustine was no stranger to messy love. In his youth, he famously loved too much (or loved the wrong things, depending on whom you ask). Augustine’s theology zeroed in on the disarray that happens when our loves become disordered—say, when material wealth outranks integrity, or when ambition eclipses compassion.
He viewed Ordo Amoris not as a restriction but as liberation. By placing God at the top of our hierarchy of love, Augustine believed all other affections would fall neatly into place, creating harmony in the soul and in society. This idea doesn’t just resonate with Christian theology—it’s also echoed in ethical discussions today.
Modern interpretations of Ordo Amoris
Fast-forward a few centuries, and Augustine’s ideas are being roped into debates that he could never have imagined. In modern political and social philosophy, Ordo Amoris has come to symbolise the tension between local and global loyalties. Is it "right" to prioritise national interests over international ones? Should your family's needs outweigh those of strangers living oceans away? These questions form the heart of contemporary wranglings over the idea.
In moral theology, the focus is often on balancing universal principles (like justice or charity) with particular duties (like those to your kin or nation). This tension isn’t academic—it’s alive in policy debates, activism, and even your everyday dilemmas. Where should you place your love and energy? And how much should you give to each?
The debate: Vance vs Stewart
The principle of Ordo Amoris finds a renewed urgency in today's political discourse, especially when it puts age-old values of love and obligation under modern scrutiny. This was evident in a recent heated exchange between JD Vance and Rory Stewart, two figures with starkly contrasting worldviews. Their debate wasn't just about politics—it was an intellectual sparring over who we should love first and why. Here's how it unfolded.
JD Vance’s hierarchical vision of love
In his corner, JD Vance argued for a strict hierarchy of love rooted in traditional Christian principles. His concept of Ordo Amoris prioritises familial and national obligations before expansive, global concerns—a stance that mirrors his conservative worldview. For Vance, loving your neighbour starts literally next door. Family comes first, then community, and only after that, the wider world.
Sound selfish? Not in Vance's framework. He sees this hierarchy as ensuring responsibility and accountability at every level. After all, why solve someone else's problems if you’ve neglected your own household? It’s a provocative question, one that leaves room for both admiration and critique.
Rory Stewart’s critique of Vance’s interpretation
But Rory Stewart wasn’t buying it. He publicly blasted Vance’s approach as "bizarre," accusing him of distorting classical Christian teachings. Stewart anchored his argument in a universalist understanding of love, citing biblical verses to argue for equal regard for all humans, regardless of proximity or relation.
For Stewart, Vance’s prioritisation of family and nation tilts dangerously close to tribalism. By that logic, he argued, universal solidarity and compassion fall by the wayside—a slippery slope that risks leaving the vulnerable without aid. His vision of Ordo Amoris challenges us to cast the net of love as wide as possible, even when it feels impractical or overwhelming.
Public reactions and political implications
Reactions to their spat have been predictably polarised. Conservatives praised Vance for rooting his arguments in old-school values, while progressives flocked to Stewart’s call for a broader, more inclusive love. But beyond the headlines, this debate highlighted the growing overlap between theology and public policy. How politicians articulate love—yes, love—has real consequences, shaping policies from immigration to foreign aid.
Ordo Amoris in broader contexts
Stepping away from X/Twitter brawls, where else can Ordo Amoris guide us? The answer is almost everywhere.
Love in action: personal vs global responsibilities
Dostoyevsky was right. Loving in action—as opposed to dreamy, abstract love—forces us to make tough choices. Do I spend my weekend caring for an elderly parent or volunteering at a humanitarian organisation? Ordo Amoris offers a compass to navigate these tensions, helping you prioritise without guilt-tripping yourself into paralysis.
Ordo Amoris as a framework for ethical decision-making
Ethics isn’t just for philosophy professors—it’s baked into every choice we make. Should you focus on reducing local poverty or tackling climate change? Should businesses prioritise shareholders, employees, or environmental sustainability? Using Ordo Amoris as a guide ensures decisions are rooted in properly ordered priorities, balancing competing demands against a clear ethical foundation.
The enduring relevance of Dostoyevsky’s wisdom
Let’s return to Dostoyevsky’s words: "Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed and in the sight of all…." It’s so much easier to proclaim abstract love for humanity than to sit, day after day, caring for the one person sitting in front of you. Ordo Amoris challenges this tendency, reminding us that love must first be localised and real before it can be universal and abstract.
This isn’t about absolutes—sometimes the best way to love your neighbour is through global advocacy or policy changes. But it’s a reminder to honestly examine whether your love is ordered rightly, not just aspirationally.
Conclusion
The Vance-Stewart debate may fade into the background, but the questions it raised will endure. Where does your love begin and end? How do you balance the scales of loyalty and compassion between your family, your country, and the world?
Ordo Amoris doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but it offers a sturdy framework for grappling with these eternal dilemmas. So, reflect: is your love in order? And if not, how might you begin to rearrange it?
Further reading
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis.
A profound exploration of moral philosophy, where Lewis discusses the concept of Ordo Amoris—the “order of loves”—and how emotions should be rightly ordered in alignment with objective values.
The Essence of Happiness: A Tribute to Dietrich von Hildebrand edited by John Henry Crosby and Benedict XVI.
A collection of reflections on Dietrich von Hildebrand’s philosophy, including his views on love, value, and the right ordering of our affections.
Transformation in Christ by Dietrich von Hildebrand.
A deep spiritual and philosophical guide on the transformation of the soul, emphasizing the importance of properly ordering our loves and desires.
The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis.
A beautiful meditation on different types of love—affection, friendship, eros, and charity—and how they fit into the proper ordering of human desires.
Josef Pieper: An Anthology by Josef Pieper.
A collection of works from Pieper, a philosopher who expanded on Ordo Amoris, discussing how virtue and love must be rightly ordered to achieve a good life.
