Does absolute power always corrupt, or can it be wielded with integrity?

[laly520]

[NathanDavis]

power, in a way... is corrupt by default and definition, because you're using power as a force to get your way as you wield it

and on top of that, you do have human nature... you got integrity there as a concept, mostly for individuals, or your own actions, but human nature is not individuals alone as "islands" human nature is more defined by groups, or societies in this case

and that's when the perversion of power and influence, does start... it is almost impossible for everyone to align with the same sense or perception of what integrity is, or should be... and at that, it becomes subjective...

what would seem to be integrity or benevolent responsibility for some, it will not be for others, at all... that discrepancy will never go away

[Anonymous]

It is not a question of whether or not absolute power can be wielded for good but whether or not it would continue to be.


Absolute power always corrupts for it is a system of security that few men willingly part with, and those few that do are invariably replaced by those that won't.

If you on the other hand created a system of divided power by which they were forced to part with it, you would no longer have absolute power in the one position but rather in the positions that could replace the same.

This is the oligarchy which is behind most all real dictatorships, and generally it is somewhat unstable as invariably the dictator figured out how to conspired with or control the other oligarchs eliminating the accountability practically speaking.

[4ngelic]

i read a study a while back on how power effects your morals, ego etc. basically if you're corrupted by it or not, it depends on wether you were more of a good person or a not so good person to begin with. people who are on the good side of things tend to remain like that and use their power for good things. people who were more meh level nice or not that nice get much worse and can downright become evil and commit horrible crimes

[IslaTheWitch]

great power comes with even greater responsibility and tough decisions to be made... so it's given it will corrupt...

[FreyaRed]

Depends on intelligence and impulse control of person who holds the power. Unfortunately people who obtain power aren't especially smart, because smart people will be hold back and removed from rows of attendants for power. The reason, there are always 'gray eminences' behind people in power and smart attendants for power are considered dangerous for those who control them later on. Absolute power doesn't exist outside of physics and showing your intelligence level isn't smart at all, no matter how high or how low it is.

[EnjoytheDay777]

Power doesn't corrupt, necessarily. It just brings out what's already there.

A lot of people can handle adversity. If you really want to find out someone's character, give them power and see what they do with it.

[Rosexøxø]

100%!!! This^^

[Malwi93]

yeah but the naturally bad people would at least not be enabled, ukwim

[normalice]

Of course it can. The problem is in the other direction- corrupt people pursue power with far more ambition and so get it.

[Rosexøxø]

I agree with and second

@enjoytheday777

‘s opinion. 💯

[EnjoytheDay777]

Ty 😊

[Dongie]

That's the saying. Perhaps the corruption is already there being that's what it takes to attain the power.

Find a good candidate and place them in power and see.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Power itself is necessary because without power, society would collapse. Corruption just have nothing to do with power because even the least powerful country can be corrupt because they lack control.

[monorprise]

You seem to have little understanding of the concept of spontaneous order @Aiko_E_Lara

People do not simply do things because a single man's holds a gun to their head but because it is in their interest on the account of the consequence of not doing it.

Without law cars organize themselfs on the road simply because nobody wants to get hit, with those few crazy ones that did quickly finding themselfs no longer on the road.

As such society on a basic level can exist without direct leaders, this is indeed how the natural world orders itself.

What Society tends not to do without leaders is unnatural things.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

It's also possible that people can behave without laws but that still requires someone who leads in educating people the moral standards. Without it, we'd just be not civilized like our early ancestors who believe in survival to the fittest and we would have never invented cars in the first place.

[monorprise]

@Aiko_E_Lara Are not "Moral" standards just cultural rules justified on how they ultimately serve your own interest?

Do not the bulk of them ultiamrly depends upon some system of religious enforcement which takes away the secrete or unaccountable victory position? Religion is necessary not merely for the mental health of human brains designed for it, but for such "moral" codes to exist and be uniform.

As it happens there is a pragmatic self-interest in invention cars, just rather difficult to to profit from long term investments when it is stolen.

[Aiko_E_Lara]

I would have to disagree with the religion being necessary but that's besides the point. But the reason why they exist in the first place is because there are leaders and they come with power. And that includes cultural rules that evolve over time. Without leadership that would have never existed.

[ProbablyClueless]

It can be wielded with integrity, but it takes a special person to do it.

[Still-alive]

It can and has happened throughout history but more often than not we get someone terrible and evil. so democracy is still the better option.

[Anonymous]

absolute power does corrupt. human minds are not equipped for such

[Babygirl_S]

I think only wise people should have absolute power

[nawtee_me]

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I will not play god….

[jahaims]

It's possible but not likely

[impalabill77]

Yes it does, look at Donald Trump.

[noohair]

Always corrupt. Look at Government.

[Kathryn1993]

I believe show. If I had it I would be.

[Anonymous]

i think 8 out of 10 it corrupts.

[Walksbehindtherows]

Nope man

[TheCaller]

Wrong