Why am I here? For some people the answer is: to gain power so that I can make others do what I want and to do so is justified because it was the success I had in life that gave me this power.
This could be the philosophy of the billionaire, the successful businessman, who gained power by using the big money he possesses and the prestige he has gained.
A conclusion could be: if he is so successful in business, give him access to the power of the state and let him run the state like he runs his successful business.
Politicians are just talking heads, who haven't achieved anything. Even worse, they need the big money of the businessmen to get somewhere in politics, so let the businessmen do their job.
I have the impression that there are people who really believe this reasoning. Let do some steps back and see how far we had come in our ideas about the use of power, and who should have power.
After the Middle Ages, which were dominated by autocratic and dictatorial rulers, something special happened in the thinking about power.
It was now seen as something that had to be limited to prevent abuse of power. The seventeenth-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes, in his work Leviathan (1651) saw the pursuit of power as a task of the state par excellence.
People were prepared to refrain from using means of power, such as violence if others did the same. Safety was then guaranteed by a state power that claimed a monopoly on violence.
We also see the limitation and control of power reflected in the influential work of Montesquieu (1689-1755). In the book "De l'Esprit des Lois" (1748), Montesquieu elaborates on his famous separation of powers
and sets himself the goal of increasing freedom as much as possible so that dictatorship can be prevented. This has become one of the basic safeguards of democracy and individual freedom.
According to him, this can be achieved by decoupling the legislative, executive and judicial powers from each other. These three separated powers, the Trias Politica, must check each other to prevent one power from gaining the upper hand.
In Montesquieu, striving for the correct division of power is actually a striving to exclude abuse of power. To grab the power you start by destructing this system of checks and balances.
We have seen it happen in Poland. Hungary, Turkey and now also in the country that claims to be the ultimate defender of freedom and democracy, the USA.
How long will the Trias Politica stay our leading concept for handling power and freedom...?
Thank you for yout attention. The floor is yours.
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
The Discussion
[13:10] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:10] Max Chatnoir: Thanks, Herman.
[13:10] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is all so sad
[13:10] Max Chatnoir: Very!
[13:10] herman Bergson: Yes....
[13:10] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): now defying the courts
[13:10] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and still the congress does nothing
[13:11] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it is possible to get democracy backin the US?
[13:11] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its horrific indeed
[13:11] herman Bergson: The TRias Politica is the cornerstone of democracy...
[13:11] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:11] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we shall see
[13:11] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is only three months
[13:11] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): amazing
[13:11] Max Chatnoir: Yes, incredible!
[13:11] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i feel like i live in a different country
[13:11] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): is weird
[13:11] herman Bergson: The Dems are waiting for the midterms, I guess
[13:11] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): every hour something worse
[13:11] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes!
[13:11] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:12] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there is NOTHINg they can do really
[13:12] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he is a monster, a demon
[13:12] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 100% evil
[13:12] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)
[13:12] herman Bergson: Yes....Slow down Bejiita, please
[13:12] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): not enough power unless some republicans come over to a vote
[13:12] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but its true
[13:12] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:12] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess so Gemma
[13:12] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is fact
[13:12] Max Chatnoir: Yes, the controlling party has to act. It's a long time to the midterms.
[13:13] herman Bergson: The idea of Montesquieu was so brilliant
[13:13] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the people are trying to protest
[13:13] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it was
[13:13] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and we adopted it
[13:13] herman Bergson: Most of Europe adopted it...
[13:13] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lock, stock and barrel
[13:13] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa
[13:13] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and now
[13:14] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): these locks are breaking
[13:14] herman Bergson: I still dont understand why people will give away their power to right wing autocrats
[13:14] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its baffling indeed
[13:14] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): he is also talking today of closing many embassies and counselates
[13:14] Max Chatnoir: I think economics is a factor. The exertion of power by incredibly rich oligarchs.
[13:15] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:15] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): tho his tariffs will hurt some
[13:15] Max Chatnoir: The economy also needs to be rebalanced.
[13:15] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump if anything UNbalances it
[13:15] herman Bergson: Yes, today money is power...
[13:15] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): guuh, yes sadly
[13:15] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep
[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): even worse, your human value is derived from your wallet size, that's why poor and sick people have no value for Trump
[13:16] Max Chatnoir: When you can buy loyalty or lack of resistance, why not do it?
[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they are dead to him
[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its just :(
[13:16] herman Bergson: Indeed Max....
[13:17] herman Bergson: but why want people sell there loyalty?
[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 9 international students at UCONN had their visas revoked Herman
[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): u cant measure someone's value in money
[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and 13 at Yale so far
[13:17] Max Chatnoir: I don't know, but it seems to be working.
[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): harvard is rebelling
[13:17] Max Chatnoir: the sellout
[13:17] herman Bergson: For what reason Gemma?
[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): refsing to comply
[13:17] Max Chatnoir: Yes, Harvard is resisting.
[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): no reason is known by the university
[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or the students
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Harvard gave up 1. something billion
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): fed funds
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and refuse
[13:18] herman Bergson: Yes but Harvard has 53 billion in the Bank :-)
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the Univ is helping the students
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good for Harvard
[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yay
[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:19] Max Chatnoir: Yes, they have enough to say I don't need your buyoff.
[13:19] herman Bergson: But it all looks like a dictatorship at the moment....
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right'
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): money again
[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): money rules
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sadly yes
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:20] herman Bergson: I follow a lot of the news but I really get tired of it.....every hour another bombshell of this or that
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i turn the tv off for an hour and all hell has broken loose when i turn it on again
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): every day
[13:20] herman Bergson: The US has become a different country indeed...certainly from my perspective....
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): as I said
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): same with youtube, u get bombarded with all bad things trump does as soon u go in there
[13:21] herman Bergson: Indeed Gemma... :-)
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there is no stop on this maniac!
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): maniac
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we are in the middle of the chaos.. at least most of you can look in from the outside
[13:22] herman Bergson: The only positive thing for us here is that the US and other countries show what power (in the wrong hands) means.....
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed, feel bad for u, i hope something changes really soon
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cant go on like this
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i hope for the best
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that something changes
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is so hard to believe has only been three months
[13:22] Max Chatnoir: I was hoping for more help from the judiciary.
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): amazing
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed Gemma, i knew it would be bad but not THIS bad
[13:23] herman Bergson: Yes indeed Bejiita....I really feel sorry too....to see my American Dream vanish....and being destroyed
[13:23] Max Chatnoir: But congress has to cooperate
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he really is all out for revenge
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lone word in their finding about the deportee is stopping it all
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 1 word
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): illegallly deported
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm its awful and really sad
[13:24] Max Chatnoir: I'm afraid that a lot of the population is regarded as disposable.
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes max
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): + the guy had a family and kids
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:25] herman Bergson: This has become the method to destroy the Trias Politica....ignoring the Judiciary, questioning election results...etc
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and paid taxes
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and worked
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yesterday in New Hampshire they grabbed a man who was on his way to take a test for citizenship
[13:26] Max Chatnoir: The system produced a lot of success.
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump is a full blown razist/nazist sending innocent people to death camps, like Hitler did
[13:26] herman Bergson: Billionaires lack empathy....a proven fact
[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): very proven
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its totally unreal
[13:26] Max Chatnoir: Not a perfect educational system, but a really good one.
[13:26] herman Bergson: slow down Bejiita...please
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least its on the way as i see it
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its amess
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it is what it is now
[13:27] herman Bergson: We can do little, but hope for better times
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true, all we can do
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): exactly
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i am supporting indivisible
[13:28] Max Chatnoir: survive long enough to vote....
[13:28] herman Bergson: yes Max.....
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): https://indivisible.org/
[13:28] herman Bergson: But we have to wait till 2026....
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): max you know this??
[13:28] Max Chatnoir: Yes!
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i sent you some shirts bej
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes i got those
[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he wants to go for a 3e term
[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there is an inworld group of Indivisible
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its not fitting my body properly though
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ohoh
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: too big?
[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: too small?
[13:30] Max Chatnoir: There is a group inworld?
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it is like this on me
[13:31] Lukkie Sands: We Dutch have a saying: The quay will eventually turn the ship.....
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): you need an alpha Bejiita
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess the alphas i already have can work
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh lets see if they sent those
[13:32] Lukkie Sands: Too much muscles Bejiita :-)
[13:32] Max Chatnoir: Say some more about the quay, Lukkie.
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haha i guess
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh i see none were sent
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I sorry..
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I'm Sorry!
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i only got the shirts no alphas
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i see
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): maybe i will try to find some
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ask the maker to do it
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this is almost right
[13:34] herman Bergson: Next lecture will not discuss power :-)
[13:34] herman Bergson: We must find something more optimistic
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh good
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we need a rest
[13:34] herman Bergson: Indeed Gemma
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as said, all we can do is wait, even i wish i could do something, esp these deportation things are totally sad and inhumane
[13:34] herman Bergson: It reallyis frustrating
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): very frustrating
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): very
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we are celebrating the 6th anniversary of Bellisseria
[13:35] Max Chatnoir: We need a Montesquieu
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YES
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): over at the fairgrounds there
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): really nice build
[13:35] herman Bergson: And the most frustrating is that I don't get it, don't understand it
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:36] herman Bergson: Yes Max ASAP
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its 2025, this should not happen anywhere!
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well he promised everything that is happening fo r2 years
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and some listened
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for lower prices
[13:36] herman Bergson: and still 40% of the population su[[orts him... !!!!!???????
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and they even got botched on that, pries are higher then ever. And Trump is cashing in!
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): prices
[13:37] Max Chatnoir: I just read Bob Reich's The Common Good. It was an interesting tracking of the decline in the separation of powers.
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its just about him
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some for promises to bring back more jobs
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): when he is throwing out people
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and the unemployment is only 4%
[13:37] herman Bergson: yes....putting tiny screws in iPhones....
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): how they thought that would work, those times are over, we are an international market now
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): many of whom cannot work
[13:38] Max Chatnoir: Did you know your driving habits can be tracked on your phone?
[13:38] herman Bergson: yes....all you movements can. Max
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the GPS i guess
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh yes
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and sensors
[13:39] Max Chatnoir: reported to insurance companies.
[13:39] herman Bergson: oh my...that is real fun ...
[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Big Brother is watching you...1984
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): George Orwell
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so they can deny u payouts no matter how careful u drive when the shit finally hit the fac
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): exactly Beertje
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): fan
[13:40] herman Bergson: I already have given up on that Beertje....
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): while demanding higer fees
[13:40] herman Bergson: I only wave back
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ツ
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed Beertje
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:41] herman Bergson: I think we need a rest :-)
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and some cards
[13:41] herman Bergson: Thank you all again for participating
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): a good strong drink maybe
[13:42] herman Bergson: Class dismissed.....
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): good idea
[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
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