Post by RaceWright on Feb 8, 2004 0:52:26 GMT -5
Who has not heard of the great maxim "absolute power corrupts absolutely"? It seems to be a basic expression that democracy has equipped us with to fight against the evil monarchies, tyrannies, dictatorships, despots, and the like. As Americans (I include myself because Americans has become synonomous with Western Civilization) we have the fundemental view that each man is created equal, and each man is to have the right to govern his own life, and have an equal share in the government of his nation.
Throughout history there have been men who have wished to sieze this right from the people, men known as Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin. Why? What is their motivation?
Personal motivation travels a long distance in the way we use the powers God has given us. Are we ambitious? Are we benevolent? Are we kind? Are we ruthless and uncaring?
Philosophers of the Golden Age of Athens were struck with the importance of government. Plato and Socrates, Aristotle even, conjured up images of the "perfect" state, and the ruler of this state. Plato himself was disenfranchised from democracy. He knew full well the evils inherant to it. Plato's answer was the philosopher King, admitedly I am no expert on "The Republic", but the philosopher King knew why he was in power, he was responsible for the well-being of the people. He knew he was not the tyrannt who had usurped the throne (whether for good or ill) for his own personal glory. Marcus Tullius Cicero was famed for his love of glory. His glory. Where did this end? With his hands and tongue nailed to the Forum, to the Rostra.
Knowledge is Power, Franscis Bacon.
Essencially there are two forms of power, the power to influence, and the power to do. To have all of one is to have none of all. The power to do is a must, if there was no power to do something, then all the influence would make no difference, nothing would be done. The power to influence is less important, but one that I feel must be had in greater quanities. Julius Caesar was a man who could do, but did not know how to influence to a great enough extent. He was murdered because he had not influenced the people to a great enough degree. In contrast to this Augustus Caesar was the first successful Roman king (that term which Roman Rome loved to hate) because he didnt do things, he influenced the senate to do them instead.
A powerful man controls men's thoughts, a wise man controlls men's thoughts also, but does not let it be known.
All this is useless without and application: Firstly, power should be used for the people, secondly power should be thoughtful not brash. As someone famous famously put it: Power that is not wise is like a blunt edge on an axe, it is useful only for bruising, not polishing.
Do we use power for ourselves or for the people?
Throughout history there have been men who have wished to sieze this right from the people, men known as Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin. Why? What is their motivation?
Personal motivation travels a long distance in the way we use the powers God has given us. Are we ambitious? Are we benevolent? Are we kind? Are we ruthless and uncaring?
Philosophers of the Golden Age of Athens were struck with the importance of government. Plato and Socrates, Aristotle even, conjured up images of the "perfect" state, and the ruler of this state. Plato himself was disenfranchised from democracy. He knew full well the evils inherant to it. Plato's answer was the philosopher King, admitedly I am no expert on "The Republic", but the philosopher King knew why he was in power, he was responsible for the well-being of the people. He knew he was not the tyrannt who had usurped the throne (whether for good or ill) for his own personal glory. Marcus Tullius Cicero was famed for his love of glory. His glory. Where did this end? With his hands and tongue nailed to the Forum, to the Rostra.
Knowledge is Power, Franscis Bacon.
Essencially there are two forms of power, the power to influence, and the power to do. To have all of one is to have none of all. The power to do is a must, if there was no power to do something, then all the influence would make no difference, nothing would be done. The power to influence is less important, but one that I feel must be had in greater quanities. Julius Caesar was a man who could do, but did not know how to influence to a great enough extent. He was murdered because he had not influenced the people to a great enough degree. In contrast to this Augustus Caesar was the first successful Roman king (that term which Roman Rome loved to hate) because he didnt do things, he influenced the senate to do them instead.
A powerful man controls men's thoughts, a wise man controlls men's thoughts also, but does not let it be known.
All this is useless without and application: Firstly, power should be used for the people, secondly power should be thoughtful not brash. As someone famous famously put it: Power that is not wise is like a blunt edge on an axe, it is useful only for bruising, not polishing.
Do we use power for ourselves or for the people?