Moral Authority Fragility

Definition

The vulnerability of moral authority to rapid collapse when its claims are perceived as hypocritical, excessive, or self-serving. Unlike gradual erosion, fragile authority can shatter suddenly.

Example

An institution's moral authority, built over decades, collapses overnight when a scandal reveals behaviour inconsistent with its moral claims. Fragility means there's no graceful degradation.

Source

MFC Section 6

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Related Terms from Moral Fragility Cycles

Moral Fragility CycleMFC

Moral Position Instability

Defensive Overreach

Moral Certainty Trap

Backlash Dynamics

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Moral Fragility Cycles