On Provocatively Stupid Authority

[mickthinks]

It's a cop out for refusing to take the time, energy, and attention for figuring out a complete answer to problems.

Not if the problem they want to solve is how to buy their supporter's loyalty and thus increase their power. I think you should try putting yourself in the shoes of those whose behaviour you are trying to understand, Daktoria, and practise seeing things from a perspective other than your own.

[Daktoria]

Well OK, yea. I see what you're saying there, but that's stupid unto itself.

You're talking about those who believe might makes right, not right makes might. I was taking the perspective of Habermas, not Foucault, there. You're right. Some people just care about rationally calculating what it takes to accumulate power. They're psychopaths who don't think or respect the faculty of thoughtfulness itself. Instead, they simply objectify others' thoughtfulness to their own emotions.

The question I'm asking here is, "How do you correct that problematic thinking?"

[mickthinks]

Well OK, yea. I see what you're saying there, but [trying to buy one's supporter's loyalty and thus increase one's power is] stupid unto itself.

I don't think the will to power is stupid. I think you are confusing lack of intelligence with lack of morality.

[Blaggard]

You guys are weird...

Haven't you ever belonged to a club or team where authorities play favorites and get things wrong on purpose so their favorites get ahead?

This isn't about religion or government or race or any of that. It's just about people getting together, authorizing others, and screwing around with authority to get what they want. You guys are overcomplicating things. This is a basic issue.

"I wouldn't join a club that would have me as a member."

Groucho Marx.

"it's not power that corrupts or even ultimate power that corrupts absolutely, it is merely that those who are drawn to power are the most easily corrupted."

Some guy.