A Heated Debate

Okay i want your opinions on what you think Authority And Power mean.

My opinion on Authority.

Authority is given to someone when people trust and look up to this person as a leader. They are trusted and given the right to make decision and choices for a group or community.

My opinion on Power.

Power is obtained by being given it by your blood line or instilling fear in other to gain it. Power ultimately leads to corruption. Power is also gained when one knows you are much stronger physically. Although they might have Authority but if they are physically weaker then you you know they wont be able to push you around.

Now on to an example.

An example could be:

If a man comes up to you with a gun and said to you "Give me your wallet or i will shoot you" you will give him the wallet. He doesn't have the authority to take your wallet but he has the power of the gun to.

A group is traveling and need a decision on which route to take left or right. This group would vote and elect someone they know makes good decisions and the right choice and who is a leader from there group to choose the path. This person does not have power but he has been given Authority to choose the path.

Now i want your look on this and what you think about it. We did this in class today and i thought it was very interesting so i thought i would put it up here.

PS: I'm at my friends house typing this out.

 

You forgot to mention political power, or ruling authority.

 

...too bad you're 200 years late. And I'm not reading another copy of John Locke's philosophy...have had enough of that :<

 

I want opinions if your not gonna give one steer away form the thread

 

Yep, you pretty much got it right there buddy, especially on the talk of power. Power is fed from fear itself.

The fear of losing your job and putting your family at risk just by acting against you'r boss against his 'controlling' authority. Household violence between a man and women, where the man could be controlling to the women, physically and mentally. Works the other way around (not physically, at least I think). Fear of risking your life rising against a corrupted government or a religious cult. The way media implants the news of 'the war on terror' in our minds.

Media is the modern global religion, go against them and they'll use their ruling authority (power) and label you as a terrorist then the public that you want to protect will eat you alive by themselves. Cast you aside out of society.

Then there's the power based on bloodline, like the conspiracies behind the illuminati.

So yes Power is fear, it feeds off fear. Fear runs the world unless you have absolute love and authority for your own consciousness and those that you love and can see through this fear.

As Einstein once said: The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.

 

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always.

Mohandas K. Gandhi

But on a serious note

Fear plays a much broader roll in peoples lives than just handing over power to others. For example;

I fear that I may miss my parents.
I fear that I may lose the handful of friends that I have.
I fear that I may miss out on career opportunities.
I fear this server might crash and wipe everyones characters


And if power is only made up of fear, physical &/or mental dominance (ill even add financial superiority to the mix), then you'd have to explain how historically there have been peace loving people who've had a large influence on their societies like Martin Luther King Jr. I don't think he ruled with fear nor was he given any authority in his country. And he was no Bill Gates with the monies.

 

BUMP more answers !!!!!!!!

 

Daily bump, im here at my mom's work place for take your kid to work day =)

 

in some cases maybe power and authority is different. In my belief, God has the authority over all among us that lives and created by Him, and he has the power to punish and forgive sinners.

 

That my friends is a lesson for life

 

To me Authority and Power are two completely seperate things.

But thats just my opinion as you can see stated above