I have to disagree. There is an old aphorism ascribed to Lord Acton. 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely.' I disagree with that for the same reason. Power doesn't corrupt anyone. Money, culture, sex, nothing corrupts the person that dedicates themselves to be incorruptible. We have all demonstrated to ourselves that we can resist corruption, and we have very likely done this regarding multiple vectors for corruption. We know we can do it. We know when we don't, too.
I would rephrase Acton.'The absolutely corrupt seek power without reservation.' They'll stop at nothing to get power, and they'll commit any atrocity, concoct and employ any scheme, to the limit of their ability. In the same way and for the same reason I don't think the petite bourgeoisie are anymore corrupt than anyone else. If people weren't competent to resist corruption we would never have attained to any substantial degree of civilization.
Not everyone everywhere is as corrupt as they can be, and all of us are only as corrupt as we allow ourselves to be. Some of us are outstanding exemplars that resist every effort to corrupt them, return every overpayment from their clients, correct every bank error in their favor, refuse every improper proposal, and dedicate themselves to doing what is good and right to the best of their abilities.
I'd like to meet them that do that. It's a bit easy to get blackpilled hereabouts, and I could use some encouragement, so let me know if you find any. Until then, we should at least believe they're out there.
Perhaps but to quote that other purveyor of contemporary art - Trent Reznor “Don’t tell me power can corrupt a person, you haven’t had enough to know what it’s like.” And sometimes they make you an offer you cannot refuse.
But I am not a complete pessimist and feel that there must, as you logically point out, be some people who are, for the most part “incorruptible.” But no one is totally pure, completely free from the power of coercive elements and it is this conventional culture that provides such elements in great abundance.
If power corrupts, go forth and strive to grasp it regardless. It is within your potential to grasp inasmuch as it is to recognize and reject the status quo which proscribed you not to.
Does turning the other cheek in response to excessive use of power keep that power in check? If so, then The Lord's Creation remains in its fallen state. A martyr until it's forced vaccinated and dies soon thereafter. None are left wiser for this sacrifice upon the global Altar of the bio-surveillance state.
I implore thee to keep safeguarded an immediate memory of how it's the corrupted who will not confess their sins, refusing to seek forgiveness for their wrongdoings. Nor make amends.
Let's entertain the Acton aphorism as a global truth and Law of Nature.
A reason for those not willing to wrestle power from their tormenters, is to not upset Judeo-Christian notions of resistance to and abstinence from base, primordial desires.
Messianism, or martyrdom is instilled in the classes born to be destined for suffering. Do we live through so many struggles for a future where peace and prosperity continue to elude us?
One side says 'the meek shall inherit the earth'. And the inverse side says 'might is right.' To never seize power, lest it offends their religions? Or to seize power lest you offend your religion by not doing so?
Something about this paradox dualism doesn't bode well for me. It's not conducive to doing the right thing, either in the eyes of God or my own morals, values and ethics.
As I'm sure God will forgive me for potential sins of wrath or even judgement I commit, there is no more grace or glory to be had in a solipsistic understanding of Power.
Besides all the above, I don't believe that knowledge is power and neither did a Theological Seminary scholar who wrote his thesis on Gnosticism in the New Testament.
Early into the thesis, I was bowled over after reading an excerpt he included from another Priest's centuries old studies into Gnosticism.
Knowledge is not Power. It is the act of Revelation; the pantomine, the enraptured and/or captive audience, the action of Revealing purported knowledge that simulates what we see as Power.
* Pasolini on consumeristic civilization (eng sub) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bipWHxTi-3c
This is so disingenuous. Marxists 'love' poor people because they cannot challenge their authority.
Marxism always ends in mass poverty and slaughter.
It hasn't always ended like that, it's only a couple of centuries old.
Besides he announced himself a Marxist before our era of critical theory and digital technocracy made it cool to do so.
"Conventional culture always corrupts." Couldn't agree more.
I have to disagree. There is an old aphorism ascribed to Lord Acton. 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely.' I disagree with that for the same reason. Power doesn't corrupt anyone. Money, culture, sex, nothing corrupts the person that dedicates themselves to be incorruptible. We have all demonstrated to ourselves that we can resist corruption, and we have very likely done this regarding multiple vectors for corruption. We know we can do it. We know when we don't, too.
I would rephrase Acton.'The absolutely corrupt seek power without reservation.' They'll stop at nothing to get power, and they'll commit any atrocity, concoct and employ any scheme, to the limit of their ability. In the same way and for the same reason I don't think the petite bourgeoisie are anymore corrupt than anyone else. If people weren't competent to resist corruption we would never have attained to any substantial degree of civilization.
Not everyone everywhere is as corrupt as they can be, and all of us are only as corrupt as we allow ourselves to be. Some of us are outstanding exemplars that resist every effort to corrupt them, return every overpayment from their clients, correct every bank error in their favor, refuse every improper proposal, and dedicate themselves to doing what is good and right to the best of their abilities.
I'd like to meet them that do that. It's a bit easy to get blackpilled hereabouts, and I could use some encouragement, so let me know if you find any. Until then, we should at least believe they're out there.
Perhaps but to quote that other purveyor of contemporary art - Trent Reznor “Don’t tell me power can corrupt a person, you haven’t had enough to know what it’s like.” And sometimes they make you an offer you cannot refuse.
But I am not a complete pessimist and feel that there must, as you logically point out, be some people who are, for the most part “incorruptible.” But no one is totally pure, completely free from the power of coercive elements and it is this conventional culture that provides such elements in great abundance.
If power corrupts, go forth and strive to grasp it regardless. It is within your potential to grasp inasmuch as it is to recognize and reject the status quo which proscribed you not to.
Does turning the other cheek in response to excessive use of power keep that power in check? If so, then The Lord's Creation remains in its fallen state. A martyr until it's forced vaccinated and dies soon thereafter. None are left wiser for this sacrifice upon the global Altar of the bio-surveillance state.
I implore thee to keep safeguarded an immediate memory of how it's the corrupted who will not confess their sins, refusing to seek forgiveness for their wrongdoings. Nor make amends.
I recognise your name VC! Good to C U!! 😊
Let's entertain the Acton aphorism as a global truth and Law of Nature.
A reason for those not willing to wrestle power from their tormenters, is to not upset Judeo-Christian notions of resistance to and abstinence from base, primordial desires.
Messianism, or martyrdom is instilled in the classes born to be destined for suffering. Do we live through so many struggles for a future where peace and prosperity continue to elude us?
One side says 'the meek shall inherit the earth'. And the inverse side says 'might is right.' To never seize power, lest it offends their religions? Or to seize power lest you offend your religion by not doing so?
Something about this paradox dualism doesn't bode well for me. It's not conducive to doing the right thing, either in the eyes of God or my own morals, values and ethics.
As I'm sure God will forgive me for potential sins of wrath or even judgement I commit, there is no more grace or glory to be had in a solipsistic understanding of Power.
Besides all the above, I don't believe that knowledge is power and neither did a Theological Seminary scholar who wrote his thesis on Gnosticism in the New Testament.
Early into the thesis, I was bowled over after reading an excerpt he included from another Priest's centuries old studies into Gnosticism.
Knowledge is not Power. It is the act of Revelation; the pantomine, the enraptured and/or captive audience, the action of Revealing purported knowledge that simulates what we see as Power.