As we learned through this reading, power can take a lot of
forms and definitions depending on the situations, objectives and collective or
self-interests. Accumulation of power seems to be an essential part of natural
human desires since the very start of mankind, it leads to progress, whether
individual or collective, depending on the person or authority possessing power
but the question that intrigued me a lot was how to classify it as morally good
or bad? In my opinion, morals are something without any intact definition; we
can never classify something as morally right or wrong but just put them in
either category learning from our experiences, norms, stereotypes and other
already set forth cultural and ethical values.
Acquisition of interests is always done by utilizing power and all the leaders we have ever witnessed in the books of history have shown to portray this sense of making every one better off by experiencing power, we will classify this use of power as morally right as it does no one any harm but what if the ones in power start using it for their own selfish interests and the commons suffer? Power can become a tool for all kinds of progress, in a favor of the common good or just individual progress. So will we need to condemn this pursuit of power unlike what is directed by some analysts and critics?
3 comments:
Interest-based politics appears to be the norm all around the world. However, the point you raise about whether the instrumentalization of power - and whether it is good or bad - is an interesting one. I don't think there is a clear cut, definitive answer on this point, but we should definitely spend more time thinking more about what makes the application good, bad, or anything in between.
I totally agree Sir. If we look into rationality, whatever that is rational is what provides to the fulfilment of an interest. Taking that into the perspective the rational use of power in itself cannot be classified as good or bad or immoral for say, what we can, though, classify as good or bad is the rationale behind the use of power. Power is a tool as far as I take it, what it is being used for is the bigger question.
Agreed.
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