What would be the prerequisites which cause this to happen?
One would certainly be no consequences to your actions but that definitely isn’t the only thing imo. For example I could ‘get away’ with taking advantage of people alot more but I have somewhat of a moral compass so do not so that must not be the only thing. I know in similar situations that other people would jump at the same chance if it was in their interest.
I think the lack of moral compass has alot to do with it. I suppose for myself I havent always had considerable amounts of power and have been on the receiving end more of my life than I’ve been in a position to exert it. So I guess that is what’s caused me to grow the ‘moral compass’. For someone who was given power very early they would not know any better than to abuse it and would not consider the repercussions of their actions.
An example would be how women with above average physical traits almost unswervingly abuse their sexual power if they get the chance. I think also that finding that there are no consequences to their actions and indeed they are rewarded by the shortcuts their power, if unchecked, it quickly builds up a positive feedback loop which reinforces itself.
I am thinking in general if someone had to work for their power then they wouldnt abuse it but I guess that isn’t necessarily so either. I think Hitler worked hard for his power
I think I’d say though its rather predictable that someone given power very early without having to earn it will abuse it.
What do others have to add on this in terms of what causes it to happen?
I don’t think I buy the old ‘power is corrupting, absolute power corrupts absolutely’. I think it would apply to above-mentioned spoiled types but not necessarily be so.
So long as there are people ripe for the picking, there will be those waiting to wield whatever power they may have over them… even if it’s just to pass the time, for kicks, or for more sinister reasons - you gotta love the average human psyche huh
“Abuse” means “mal-use” or “incorrect use”. So for abuse to exist, there must be a standard for proper or intended use. If the person either doesn’t see or hasn’t chosen a higher goal for the use of his power, he isn’t “abusing it” as far as he is concerned, he is merely playing. If he has obtained his power via agreement with others who had a standard or goal for the use of that power, but the person doesn’t keep within the standard, he is abusing that power. For that to happen, he must either chose to intentionally deceive for sake of an ulterior motive or more commonly be simply too blind to realize what he is doing.
Ooh, I agree. I think of imperialism, colonialism, racism. The fear that fuels these behaviours stem out of a perceived threat to self. The illusionary creation of a competitive situation by the self between self and the other is created to secure a space for power and control and domination of those who are perceived to threaten the self… The truth is that no one has any power. But the fear is what creates the illusion. This is what happens in Othello!
There are four types of Platonic “souls”. Gold, silver, bronze, and iron. You are born into one of these types of souls.
If an “iron” soul wins the lottery, and wins $10000000000, then this person is a moron, and will succumb to corruption very quickly. Many people cannot handle great sums of money, power, or wealth. They squander it. They waste it. So iron souls are very easy to corrupt. They are closer to satan.
The gold and silver souls, are much more difficult to corrupt. Gold souls are almost uncorruptable. You cannot corrupt them easily, or, at all. Why? Because these are souls closer to God. You can give them a trillion dollars, infinite wealth and fame, beauty, whatever you can dream of…and it will not affect their demeanor or VIRTUES very much. But then again, the gold souls are very, very rare, and almost impossible to find.
Politicians are examples of bronze or iron souls. These are morons, scum, who are easy to corrupt. They are one of the lowest classes of spiritual becoming.
I haven’t, Dear Heart (and I hope you don’t take that as condescending)–I’m pointing out a definitional difference between the two words as applied to humans.
