james_krotov (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} james_krotov) wrote,@ 2007-05-19 08:33:00 |
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Power and Personality
"Power corrupts". But what is corrupted by power and what are the mechanism of corruptions? When Acton made this famous statement (describing the popes of XVIth c.), there was no conception of feedback (or whether any other term is better?) On the eve of human history lust for power corrupted unique human quality: to live through mutuality, to put questions and receive answers. There is Russian expression "to tear out legs" ("nogi vyrvat'") meaning "to punish," "to make one passive." Thus the the first and the last argument of power--tearing out legs of disobedient. To counterbalance this human must wash legs (foots?) of one's own brother or sister, neighbor or enemy. Some examples of such washing are known to historians.
"Power corrupts". But what is corrupted by power and what are the mechanism of corruptions? When Acton made this famous statement (describing the popes of XVIth c.), there was no conception of feedback (or whether any other term is better?) On the eve of human history lust for power corrupted unique human quality: to live through mutuality, to put questions and receive answers. There is Russian expression "to tear out legs" ("nogi vyrvat'") meaning "to punish," "to make one passive." Thus the the first and the last argument of power--tearing out legs of disobedient. To counterbalance this human must wash legs (foots?) of one's own brother or sister, neighbor or enemy. Some examples of such washing are known to historians.
