libido dominandi

English

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Latin libīdō dominandī (“lust for domination”). The term is taken from the first book of Saint Augustine's work De civitate Dei (published in 426).

Noun

libido dominandi (uncountable)

1. (chiefly in Voegelinian philosophy) The will to power; the desire to dominate; the lust for government.

   Synonym: Wille zur Macht

   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:libido dominandi.

Further reading

• “libido dominandi” listed in Bill McClain’s Short Eric Voegelin Glossary