Power is simply ones ability to exert their will into the world. It is not a virtuous thing- it is a practical thing, you see the last cupcake, you want it, you know Jamie still hasn’t had one and wants one too- you eat it anyway if you want because no one can stop you. That is a type of power. We all have power inside us. The most basic and primal power is violence- force. Animalistic- you use violence to take what you want, stop others from keeping you from having it, or coerce others to do as you want. But civilization is about more. Power isn’t as important as how you use it. We also have power over self. I want the cupcake- but I want Jamie to have one too because I already had mine. That is virtuous power. It’s more important how we use our power than what power we have or who recognizes it.
pretty much. Or maybe more accurately the basest root of authority is violence, but the nature of power itself is simply our ability to make our will reality. We determine if our way is to serve only ourselves, to serve others or society, or to try and find some balance of those things. Power without a goal is meaningless, like having a car but not having anywhere you need or want to go. We should question less the limits of our power and question more what we use the power we have to accomplish and why.
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