Originates from his 1953 book Men Among the Ruins (Gli Uomini e le Rovine), where he lays out a Traditionalist critique of liberal democracy, socialism, and modernity, and outlines his vision for a state founded upon spiritual principles rather than economic, materialistic, or collectivist ideologies.
Evola did not list these principles as a neat numbered list in the text, but the “15 Principles” formulation is a modern summarization of the core political-spiritual ideas Evola proposes for what he calls the Traditional State or the Organic State.
These principles are not meant to be implemented as a political platform. Evola viewed them as archetypal orientations, suited only for those few capable of embodying the Solar, Regal, and Initiatic Spirit.
They are the laws of sacred order.
Below is a faithful reconstruction of those 15 principles, distilled from Men Among the Ruins, along with brief descriptions:
Julius Evola’s 15 Principles of the True State
1. Primacy of Spirit over Matter
The state must be grounded in transcendent metaphysical principles, not material needs or economic forces.
2. Authority over Power
Legitimate rule is based on authority (auctoritas)—derived from above—not on brute force, majority rule, or bureaucracy.
3. Hierarchy as a Cosmic Principle
Natural and spiritual inequality is not unjust—it is order. A true state mirrors the hierarchy of the cosmos.
4. The State as an Organism, not a Machine
Society is a living body with spiritual functions—not a soulless mechanism or contract between individuals.
5. Differentiated Functions (Caste or Orders)
Every individual has a proper function: Royalty, warrior, priest, artisan, peasant, etc. These roles are sacred and symbolic.
6. Sovereignty of the King or Aristocracy
The ruler is not a manager, but a symbol of divine presence, an Pontifex or “bridge” between Heaven and Earth.
7. Tradition over Innovation
Innovation is not a virtue. Tradition is not the past, but the eternal present of divine order.
8. Anti-Democratic, Anti-Liberal
Democracy is mob rule. Liberalism severs man from transcendence. Both are forms of decay.
9. Supremacy of the Ethos over the Economy
The economy must serve spiritual life—not dominate it. Man is not a producer or consumer, but a seeker of the eternal.
10. Education as Formation of Character and Spirit
The purpose of education is to forge a soul, not teach skills. It forms the elite, not mass citizens.
11. Religion and Rite as Pillars of the State
A state without ritual and sacred symbolism is dead. Religion must be metaphysically grounded and integrated.
12. War as a Spiritual Path
War and the warrior’s path are a means of transcendent realization, a path to glory and immortality.
13. Imperium as a Sacred Concept
Empire is not conquest but spiritual rulership—the earthly reflection of divine kingship.
14. Sexual Differentiation and Gender Hierarchy
Man and woman are not equal, they are complementary polarities with distinct metaphysical vocations.
15. Revolt Against the Modern World
The true state is at war with modernity. It exists as resistance and witness to the lost world of Tradition.